Australia’s interim captain, Steve Smith, has broken his silence following a tense confrontation with England’s fast bowler Jofra Archer during the closing session at the Gabba. The visiting team needed to dismiss the Australians for less than 64 runs, but Smith guided his team to victory by hitting the winning runs for the second consecutive Test.
Smith entered the crease with Australia at 41-2 and went on to lead his team to victory with an impressive 23 runs off just nine deliveries. He struck two massive sixes and two fours during his quick innings, dominating Archer who conceded 15 runs off five deliveries.
The heated exchange between Smith and Archer occurred during a challenging over at the Gabba, with Archer visibly frustrated after being hit for a boundary by Smith. The Australian captain responded by smashing Archer for a six and a four, showcasing his batting prowess.
In the subsequent over, Smith hit another six to seal the game, giving Australia a commanding 2-0 lead as they head into the next Test in Adelaide.
When asked about the on-field exchange with Archer, Smith commented, “That stays on the field. It was good banter. He’s a good competitor and comes hard at you, so it was good fun.”
Archer’s frustration was evident as England’s bowling attack struggled with the pink ball throughout the second Test, falling short of their best performance seen on day one in Perth.
After Joe Root’s unbeaten 134 in the first innings, England set a target of 334 for Australia to chase. The hosts comfortably achieved the target with significant contributions from Jake Weatherald, Marnus Labuschagne, Smith, Alex Carey, and Mitchell Starc, amassing 511 runs on the board.
Despite a late fight from Ben Stokes and Will Jacks, England fell short and were bowled out for 241. Travis Head and Weatherald initiated a quick start to the chase before Smith’s aggressive batting secured the victory.
Reflecting on the game, Smith stated, “It just felt right to play a few shots. He was obviously bowling quick, and I thought I’d hit a few and try to finish it quick.”
With Australia on the brink of retaining the Ashes, England faces a must-win situation in Adelaide, with the third Test set to commence on December 17.