“I’ll leave that aside.”
Steve Smith became coy when asked exactly what he said to Jofra Archer during a late duel shortly after Australia’s victory over England in the second Ashes Test in Brisbane.
But Mike on the stumps certainly picked it up. “When nothing’s going on, bowl fast, champ,” were the words Smith uttered.
In England’s quick game, Smith pulled Archer in the 14th over, top-edged him in another over and hooked fine leg in the 6th over as speedy overs eased Australia towards a target of just 65 in exactly 10 overs, extending a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Jofra Archer and Steve Smith exchange words towards the end of Australia’s eight-wicket win over England in the second Ashes Test at The Gabba
Smith then drove Gus Atkinson (who had been left out of the England squad for the third Test in Adelaide and was replaced by Josh Tan) for six overs on the leg side to seal victory for the hosts in one over, but it was a battle between Smith and Archer that lit the final spark of the match.
It’s a battle that Smith dominated in Test cricket. No bowler has sent more than 220 balls to Smith without dismissing Archer.
Archer shocked Smith, shook him and even clocked him (famously at Lord’s in 2019, a blow to the head caused him to miss the next Test at Headingley, leaving him feeling like he had downed “a dozen beers”).
But Archer never took a wicket from Smith, which may have been why, after a heated exchange in Brisbane, when the Australian was asked about his history with the England bowler, he simply replied: “What history do I have with him?” ah!
Archer posted figures of 0-28 over five overs on the fourth and final day in Brisbane.
Where is England’s intensity in Brisbane?
Smith’s rebuttal to Archer at the Gabba came after the England seamer asked: “Why are you taking shots if you’re not rushing to the scoreboard?” -That was probably a fair question.
Why didn’t the tourists bowl with such intensity and ferocity earlier in the game, when it was still live? Even though England’s batting line-up was all out of sorts, and although they did play some lackluster shots, Australia’s lackluster display of bowling attack in the first innings was the main reason they lost.
I think it’s finished and dusted. I can’t see England beating Australia in the required time. Mark Wood’s return is a big blow, but Archer doesn’t seem as threatening at times. I’ll give England a chance here in Adelaide, but I think Melbourne will trouble them with a bit of movement laterally and by Sydney it might be too late.
Former Australian star Greg Blewett on whether ‘The Ashes’ is over
As Australia galloped to 146-1 within 26 overs, it was the short and wide scraps that were bowled most often (though the buffet balls also extended to the occasional over-pitched ball).
England’s bowling improved later in the day, but they were simply disappointing in terms of the standard of their catching, and the following afternoon they were rather lethargic in the face of the stubborn butt of the hosts.
After being knocked out respectively, Australia led by 177 runs. Stuart Broad described England’s worst first-innings bowling effort since 2008. Ricky Ponting, who was commentating for Channel 7 at the time, laughed at Archer’s ferocious five overs in the second innings when Quick beat Jake Weatherald and also challenged Smith.
Dropped catch prevented Archer from taking multiple wickets in Adelaide Test
Ponting said: “Jofra finally came back to life. Six days into the series, after the second Test match, he started croaking. It’s too late, champions…too late, you guys had a chance for four days. You weren’t good enough. It’s too late to start.”
Archer shouldn’t be overly criticized. He was probably England’s best bowler in the first innings in Brisbane (though it wouldn’t have been difficult to do so; he’s tied for Wolverhampton Wanderers’ player of the season so far).
His series record of three wickets at an average of 171 would have been better if his team-mates had caught more efficiently – the butterfingers of Brydon Kearse and Jamie Smith denied him at the Gabba – while his batting average was higher than three of England’s top seven players.
Archer chats with England captain Ben Stokes towards the end of the Brisbane Test
And for England captain Ben Stokes, Archer’s searing spell late in the game in Brisbane was a crucial tone-setter. “I asked (Archer) to really switch it on because we needed to be a marker for Adelaide. I thought that was a really, really important moment for us.”
“England have to be aggressive but they have to decide when the time is right.”
In the words of Sky Sports’ Michael Atherton, the tourists are “already at the point of no return” and England will be hoping Archer’s speed and hostility towards Smith – something they could see again in Adelaide with the batsman seemingly shaking off his illness – will spark a comeback. There is no room for error when you are down 2-0 and have three games left.
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Stokes said England will draw on past experience as they aim to mount an Ashes fightback against Australia from a 2-0 deficit
Stokes’ men will need to show “a bit of dog-iness”, stand up to pressure, convey the spirit of 2023 and ultimately become more street-oriented. The longer you use the bat, the better. Be smarter with the ball.
If they do, the Ashes are not yet over, despite many objections. There is still (a little) hope for England. And Adelaide Oval also has the most suitable ground for an attacking approach.
By reputation, Adelaide has a very good batting ball. There is probably less bounce than in Perth and Brisbane, which destroyed England, and the shorter square boundaries mean it is harder for teams to use short balls as a defensive weapon. It’s time for England’s batsmen to repay that faith.
Michael Atherton of Sky Sports
Former Australia batsman and Adelaide native Greg Blewett told the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast he urged tourists to remain proactive, but also warned:
“For some time I didn’t think they were great in that regard. We all love attacking cricket, but there were some clearly stupid parts of it.
“They can’t be one-dimensional. England are in a great position so nail them (the opposition) and be a little bit more ruthless. That’s what Test cricket is all about.”
It’s now or never for England.
I was very impressed early on (with Bazball), but it was clear that it only really worked on dead flat pitches. You know what you’re getting from England. I heard beforehand that they were getting a little smarter, so it’s a shame they couldn’t adjust their game plan enough for different sessions.
Former Australian batsman Greg Blewett talks about England’s approach
Ashes Series in Australia 2025-26
Australia leads series 5 games 2-0
