THE OVAL — On a day when the biggest hitting was meant to be reserved for the Indian Premier League final, the T20 jamboree’s showpiece in Ahmedabad was upstaged by Jamie Smith’s incendiary knock that helped England to a 3-0 series whitewash against the West Indies.
In a game reduced to 40 overs per side thanks to rain in south London, Smith’s clean striking on his home ground – the Surrey wicketkeeper-batter hitting 64 from 28 balls – meant England’s pursuit of 246 in this third and final ODI was already a done deal by the time he was bowled by Gudakesh Motie in the seventh over.
By then England had already knocked 93 off their rain-adjusted target of 246, with the Oval crowd still coming to terms with a display of brutality from Smith, who smashed 10 fours and three sixes for his highest score in international cricket since last October.
The 24-year-old has rapidly made his mark since his Test debut against the West Indies at Lord’s last July, his position so secure that he felt comfortable enough to miss last winter’s tour of New Zealand to be at home for the birth of his first child.
Despite flopping at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan back in February after being moved up to No 3 for that tournament, he was shifted up to opener for this series.
After scoring 37 and then nought in the first two matches, this innings showcased everything that is good about Smith the batter as he warmed up in style for the marquee Test series against India later this month.
Smith sat out the auction for this year’s IPL to prioritise family life and his preparations for a big year ahead for England. There’s no doubting his value for the challenges that lie in wait, with many likening Smith’s ball-striking ability to that of Aussie great Adam Gilchrist.
He will no doubt grace the IPL, but for Smith and England the chance to forge something special across all three formats is the priority for now.
Under coach Brendon McCullum, those Test series against India and Australia are the overriding priority. But the revamp of this white-ball set-up under new captain Harry Brook is also hugely important.
With a T20 World Cup coming up in India and Sri Lanka next February, there will be another chance for McCullum to show what effect he has had on this white-ball group.
After bombing out in the first round of the Champions Trophy, it was important for McCullum and Brook to get off to a flying start here.
The West Indies might not be the strongest opposition but a statement has been made, with this dominant performance following a tough chase in Cardiff last Sunday and the opening match in Birmingham last week in which Brook’s men hit 400 in their first match under their new leader.
Things might have been even easier here had Motie and Alzarri Joseph not put on 91 for the eighth wicket after the tourists had been reduced to 154 for 7.
But the way Smith exploded out of the blocks – fully justifying his promotion up the order – meant this proved a cakewalk.
Ben Duckett, who made 58 before hitting Joseph to cover, and Root, who followed up his 166 in Cardiff with 44 here, took the hosts to the brink. Jos Buttler then hit the winning runs, smashing Jayden Seales for six, to secure victory with 62 balls to spare.
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