Watch: Steve Smith’s heated altercation with Jofra Archer during 2nd D/N Ashes 2025/26 Test goes viral

Before the start of the Ashes 2025/26, there were lots of speculations on how Steve Smith would face the premier England pacer, Jofra Archer, in the five-match series. The Australian captain revealed that even though he got hit by the short ball of the Barbados pacer during the 2019 Ashes, the latter wasn’t able to dismiss the New South Wales batter.

The fire burnt on the ninth over of the fourth innings between the batter and the bowler. The first ball was on a short length delivery as Steve Smith went on the back foot and pulled it meatily through the mid-wicket region as it raced away for a fine boundary. Two balls later, Smith was rushed for pace as the top edge went over the keeper for a four.

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The fourth ball from the batter was whipped over the fine-leg fence over the fielder’s head for a massive six. He was quick on the pace and perhaps premeditated the length of the delivery. “You bowl first only when it’s over, champion,” said Smith to Archer as he strides to the batter on his follow-through.

Watch: Steve Smith’s heated altercation in batting against Jofra Archer 

In the first innings, England posted 334 runs on the board, thanks to the fine unbeaten century of Joe Root, while Zak Crawley clubbed 76 runs. Mitchell Starc notched up figures of 6/75 in 20 overs. In reply, the hosts took a massive lead of 170+ runs with the help of five half-centuries from their line-up.

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“It stays on the field (smiles). Nah, good banter. He's a good competitor; he comes harder, so it was good fun. Yeah, it was good (Test match). I thought the boys played exceptionally well. Our first innings batting, the tail I thought was unbelievable, they were able to extend. I think the bottom four batted for 53 overs or something like that, so it allowed us to get into the dark last night.” Smith said in the post-match presentation.

Most of England's batters got starts in the third innings, but apart from Stokes’ 50, no one was able to take it to that spot as they set a small target of 65 runs, as the home side completed the chase by eight wickets to take a 2-0 lead.