Steve Smith couldn’t resist having a pop at Jofra Archer as he steered Australia to a dominant eight-wicket win over England to go 2-0 up in the Ashes.
England’s hopes of a first series win Down Under since 2010/11 were dealt another devastating blow as they slumped to a heavy and humbling defeat on the fourth day of an utterly one-sided pink-ball Test in Brisbane.
The tourists were already up against it having lost inside just two days in Perth, but Joe Root’s stunning century gave Ben Stokes’ men a fighting chance before Australia’s first innings.
However, the hosts roared back emphatically with a score of 511, the fifth-highest Test total without an individual century, to pile the pressure back on England.
England managed 241 in response to give themselves a lead of just 64, which Australia duly dispatched in the space of ten overs, with Smith smashing Archer for six to finish 23 not out and steer his team over the line.
Standing in for the injured Pat Cummins as captain, Smith appeared back to his frightening best at the Gabba after a quiet opening Test, even succeeding in getting under the skin of the usually calm and collected Archer in the closing stages.
The pair – whose 2019 contest has gone down in Ashes folklore – were seen exchanging a few choice words in the middle after Archer tested a fired-up Smith with a rapid bouncer
‘Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion,’ Australia’s stand-in skipper was heard saying to Archer on the stump mic.
While the tension between lingered for the remainder of Archer’s over, the duo were seen shaking hands not long after as Australia cruised to victory.
‘What history do I have with him?’ Smith when a reporter brought up his ‘history’ with England pace bowler Archer during a press conference shortly after their altercation.
‘I’m not really too sure what he said and I’m not sure what I said either.’
‘It’s not really any of your business either!’
More to follow.