International careers can end at any time. There are many reasons for this. A popular one is a pure retirement where the player naturally calls time on his/her career. Most times, however, their performances over a tour is so poor that they never get picked again.
The Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is a popular place where careers come to end. The Ashes, historically, has seen many English players careers end. It won't be surprising then if cricket fans, including myself, never hear a few English player names in the international circuit after their disastrous tour.
The SCG, which has hosted the first Test of the New Year on and off since the 1950s and become where Australian legends say their goodbye, has, in fact, developed a particularly nefarious reputation for England cricketers. This is where Ashes strugglers are read their last rites.
From their six previous Ashes contests in the harbour city since the turn of the century (all but five marking the series finale), 14 England players have played their final Tests here. It's a not-so-illustrious list that includes more greenhorns than veterans, several one-and-dones and only one who went out on his own terms.
The spinner responsible for delivering Steve Waugh’s famous final-ball ton, Richard Dawson, was never sighted at Test level again after taking 1-113 in the final match of the 2002-03 series, which also marked the final matches for John Crawley and Andy Caddick, the latter being maybe the only player England actually wanted to pick again.
It was a similar story four years on for Sajid Mahmood and Chris Read and then Boyd Rankin (for England at least – he played twice more for Ireland), Scott Borthwick, Michael Carberry and, contentiously, Kevin Pietersen, after the next whitewash in 2013-14. Tellingly, the only farewell after England's 2010-11 series win was Paul Collingwood, who announced his retirement before the match.
From the past two tours, there's been Tom Curran, Mason Crane (2017-18) and Jos Buttler and Haseeb Hameed (2021-22). Dawid Malan never played again after that 21-22 tour (which concluded in Hobart instead of Sydney); while Mark Stoneman and James Vince were gone not long after 17-18.
As for those playing in this match, Root stood by Jamie Smith after his day-two exit to Marnus Labuschagne's popgun bouncer, contorting himself to justify the wicketkeeper-batter's shot as part of a tactical strategy.
Matthew Potts finished the day six runs away from the most expensive wicketless spell in Ashes history with his final-session speeds dipping below 125kph, the range ECB cricket boss Rob Key has suggested are of little use in Test cricket.
Jacks may be the most confounding of the three. The 27-year-old's reputation is of a T20 freewheeler, yet his batting strike-rate in this series (40.16) is almost 20 runs per 100 balls slower than Usman Khawaja's (59.44), Australia's most watchful batter, while the catch he put down off Head was the type boundary fielders in short-form cricket routinely pouch.
Is Will Jacks the modern-day Richard Dawson? Jamie Smith the next Chris Read? Matthew Potts another Tom Curran? History suggests the answer will be yes to at least one of these questions.
From my vantage point, there are a few players who could kiss their international careers goodbye. First, are the English openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Both have had a string of poor performances; particularly the former. Ben Duckett might be safe. However, should Brendon McCullum get sacked, Duckett might follow him. This is because Duckett essentially encapsulates the Bazball philosophy.
It's quite clear that Ollie Pope's international career is over. After getting droppred from the team, it can be hard to re-enter the frame; especially if the person (in his case, Jacob Bethell) goes on to score 154.
Jamie Smith could be at risk. He can find himself playing reckless shots that causes him to get out easily. In his defence, he's only 25. He still has time to learn and adapt to the various environments.
Matthew Potts and Mark Wood are in danger. Potts didn't quite stake his claim to be a mainstay while Mark Wood is constantly injured and is out for lengthy periods. There's no possible place for a player like this.
It's a shame when careers end like this. Every player wants to end their career on their own terms. However, it's the player's fault that it ended. They didn't perform well so they deserve to get dropped. Sometimes, a break from a certain environment can make all the difference. The player might feel rejuvenated afterwards.