Smith vs Archer took center stage again in Brisbane as the Australia stand-in captain brushed off a fiery exchange with the England fast bowler during the 2nd Ashes Test.
Australia sealed an eight-wicket win at the Gabba to take a 2-0 series lead, but the talking point arrived late on day four — the latest chapter in the ongoing Steve Smith and Jofra Archer rivalry.
Smith vs Archer: Sparks fly during high-pace spell
With just 65 runs to defend, Archer finally hit full rhythm, cranking speeds above 93mph/150kph. Smith, knowing rain was approaching, counter-attacked immediately — pulling his first ball for four and attempting an audacious uppercut next ball.
That’s when the verbal duel began.
Archer questioned Smith’s urgency: “Why play your shots when there’s no rush on the scoreboard?”
Smith fired back: “You bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.”
Watch the Archer vs Smith face off here:
Ben Stokes even joined the exchanges with Jake Weatherald before umpires stepped in. Ricky Ponting, on Channel 7 commentary, applauded the intensity but suggested England’s aggression was too late to matter.
Smith then hammered Archer for two more boundaries and later celebrated animatedly after launching Gus Atkinson for six.
Steve Smith vs Jofra Archer — history revisited
Their duel goes back to the infamous 2019 Lord’s Test where Archer struck Smith on the neck with a brutal bouncer. While that blow forced Smith to miss the next Test, Archer still hasn’t dismissed him in Tests — despite bowling over 33 overs at him.
Asked post-match whether their history fueled the moment, Smith dead-batted it with a smile:
“What history do I have with him? …Not really any of your business either, so we’ll leave it out there.”
He instead credited smart shot-selection due to the short boundary and incoming storm:
“Jof was bowling quick. I thought, why not try to get up and under a few… Fortunately, it hit the middle a couple of times.”
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Jofra Archer left frustrated
Archer ended the Test with just one wicket in 30 overs, hurt by dropped catches and a dip in pace earlier in the match. England coach Brendon McCullum, though, insisted he remains crucial.
“You can’t come to this country and start sulking… You’ve got to stand up and go again.”
For Australia, the win capped a dominant couple of weeks. For fans, the Archer vs Smith rivalry remains unmatched in modern Ashes theatre — speed, scars, and no shortage of words.
With three Tests left and tension rising, the next chapter promises even more fireworks.
