Smith disappointed with Adelaide collapse

Steve Smith was impressed with several elements of Australia's performance in Adelaide but their batting in a second innings of 138 wasn't one of them.

Steve Smith

Steve Smith says England get credit for bowling well but Australia's batsmen weren't up to scratch. (AAP)

Australia hold a 2-0 lead in the Ashes but their knack of collapsing remains a concern for Steve Smith.

Smith has long lamented his team's wobbles with the willow. The captain remarked after this year's Test tour of Bangladesh that there had been "15 collapses in our last 14 games ... that's not good enough for an Australian cricket team".

Australia's batting woes haven't been costly in the ongoing five-Test series but they were apparent in both Brisbane and Adelaide.

At the Gabba, Australia were in all sorts of trouble at 4-76 before Smith rescued them with the help of Shaun Marsh.

At Adelaide Oval, Marsh's unbeaten century in the first innings was rewarded with man-of-the-match honours but the hosts gave England a sniff when they slipped to 6-76 in their second dig and were rolled for 138.

"We probably let ourselves down a little bit in the second innings with the bat," Smith said after his side's 120-run win.

"Albeit with things being tough for the top order at night - England bowled particularly well and deserve some credit.

"(But) the way we batted was a little bit disappointing. We gave a few wickets away, didn't grind things out for long enough.

"We've probably missed a trick there."

Smith's decision to not enforce the follow-on prompted widespread debate and criticism but former Test opener Simon Katich was more worried about how Australia's batsmen crumbled on day four.

"There's been a lot of conjecture about the decision not to enforce the follow-on but I think once Steve Smith opted to bat again, the Australians knew they had to get through the first two sessions (on day four)," Katich told Fox Sports.

"They didn't do that. They were quite reckless with the way they batted.

"Once the decision is made to bat again, it's in your control how you bat.

"With a 20-odd-over-old ball and then to have the sun out and to bat the way they did and be bowled out by the first break, that was disappointing."


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Source: AAP



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