This latest rescue act may be the most important knock in Smith’s short career. It is all the more impressive given the last match, England’s defeat in the second Test in Multan, was his worst with the Three Lions on his chest.
A struggle with the bat – he made 21 and six – was in step with the rest of the England team, but the drop of a simple chance off Brydon Carse on the third afternoon was perhaps their last hope of getting into the game.
Smith probably won’t drop an easier one in his time as a Test cricketer, the miss made worse by Joe Root putting down another catch in the same over. Ben Stokes let out his frustration on the field, a rarity for the England skipper, who later apologised to the team in the dressing room.
“You move on to another game,” said Smith. “I didn’t score the runs I would have liked and dropped a catch which could have proven crucial, but those things happen in sport.
“There will definitely be times where that will happen again, but it’s dusting yourself off and coming again to the next game with a smile on your face, looking to enjoy playing and trying to influence results.”
Short of catching bullets in his teeth, there is very little Smith can do to persuade those who believe Ben Foakes should still be in the England team as the best pure gloveman in the country.
As the second-choice keeper to Foakes at Surrey, Smith will be all too aware of the difference in their respective abilities.
Smith is hardly a stopper to whom England have attached a pair of gloves. He has come through the ranks as a keeper. Most importantly, he was chosen for innings like Rawalpindi, the kind of knock Foakes is not suited to play.
England found themselves in a similar situation against India in Ranchi earlier this year, in need of runs, with their wicketkeeper only afforded the lower-order for company. India dropped the field and Foakes was powerless to penetrate it.
In contrast, Smith was able to move through the gears against Pakistan. He was beaten in England’s six-hitting competition in Wednesday’s training session, even though he landed the biggest blow of anyone in the squad. On Thursday there was no doubt over the identity of the maximum man, as Smith plonked half a dozen over the rope.
“It was more luck than judgement, because on another day some of them are out,” he said. “That’s how I like to play my cricket, I’ll take it on regardless of the field. If I feel that’s the best option, I’ll be taking it.”
