Warne fuming at Smith dismissal

Former Test greats Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting have criticised Steve Smith following his dismissal on the stroke of the tea interval on day two of the fourth Test.

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Australia made a solid start as they chipped away at England's 331-run lead, with openers David Warner and Chris Rogers putting on 113 for the opening wicket of the second innings at Trent Bridge.

Warner (64) and Rogers (52) fell to Ben Stokes after a fine spell of swing bowling by the allrounder, who then had Shaun Marsh caught in the slips for two.

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But it was the wicket of the world's No.1 rated batsman that left the home side jubilant after he played at a full and wide delivery from Stuart Broad and sliced the ball straight to Stokes at shortish point.

Former Test greats Shane Warne and Ricky Ponting have criticised Steve Smith following THIS dismissal on the stroke of tea (restrictions apply)

"It's a lack of awareness, that was just horrific. It was a one-day wide just before tea," Warne said on Sky Sports.

"It's not good enough. You just let that through to the keeper.

"I cannot believe a guy would play that shot - and you're ranked the No.1 batsman in the world."

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Ponting said England had set a trap to tempt Smith and said the vice-captain walked straight into it.

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Stuart Broad celebrates the wicket of Steve Smith // Getty

"I'm sure they'd be disappointed with that," Ponting said.

"They basically telegraphed how they were going to bowl to him.

"They pitched the ball up wide of off stump. He got one boundary away, tried to go again but unfortunately hit it straight to the fielder."

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Despite the criticism and the low score on Friday, Smith remains the third-highest run-scorer for the series with 365 runs at 45, 215 of which came in the first innings at Lord's.

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Smith walks off the ground after losing his wicket just before tea // Getty

Three of the top run-scorers for the series are Australian - Chris Rogers, Smith and David Warner trail leader Joe Root - which is a remarkable statistic given Australia's troubles with the bat, particularly in the third and fourth Tests.

Smith's dismissal on Friday was part of an Australian collapse of 7-123 either side of tea, which leaves them on the brink of a series defeat.

England tried their best to let Australia back into the fourth Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, but a mini-collapse just before tea crushed the tourists' hopes

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