REVEALED: STEVE SMITH'S SAVAGE EIGHT-WORD DIG AT JOFRA ARCHER AS TEMPERS FLARE IN BRISBANE
Steve Smith delivered a savage eight-word sledge to Jofra Archer as tempers flared during Australia's eight-wicket victory against England in Brisbane.
The game had slipped from England's fingers, with Australia needing only 65 runs on Sunday evening to win the match, after Ben Stokes and Will Jacks were unable to salvage something from England's second innings despite a gallant fightback.
With the new ball in hand, Gus Atkinson dismissed both Travis Head (22) and Marnus Labuschagne (3), with Steve Smith subsequently entering the fray.
Archer then took the new ball and began to bowl much faster than he had done in England's first innings, perhaps channelling his spell against Smith at Lord's in 2019.
But Smith took him on, swiping him for four, a move that rattled Archer.
'You only play those shots when there's not much on the score, mate,' Archer was overheard saying to Smith, who hit back immediately.
'[You only] Bowl fast when there's nothing going on, champion,' Smith said, returning fire.
The Englishman did not take the sledge kindly, with the pair exchanging a couple of frosty words in the middle for a few moments, before Archer walked away.
Speaking to Cricket Australia after the match, Smith broke his silence on the frosty confrontation.
'That stays on the field,' he said.
'That was good banter, he's a good competitor and he comes hard at ya so that's fun.'
Smith was again pressed on the matter during his press conference.
'Nah he was just bowling good pace, not really too sure what he said, not really sure what I said, and I'm not sure it's any of your business either,' Smith laughed.
Smith would go on to swipe Archer for six, to seal the match for Australia.
Archer and Smith had engaged in an incredible battle at Lord's in 2019, with Smith defiantly weathering the Englishman's serious pace, taking multiple knocks on his hands and arms, before Archer clattered him on the helmet with a rocket of a delivery.
Smith came out swinging on Sunday evening in an attempt to wrap up the Test match before the close of play.
'It just felt right to play a few shots,' the stand-in Australian skipper said to TNT Sports.
'He [Archer] was obviously bowling quick, and I thought I'd hit a few up and try to get hold of a couple. I tried to finish it quickly.
'There's a bit of a storm coming around, so I wanted to get it done by playing a few shots. High percentage with the short boundary behind me, so I wanted to take it on.
'I thought the boys played exceptionally well. Our first innings batting, the tail was unbelievable. The bottom four batted for 53 overs or something like that, which allowed us to get into the dark last night, and taking six wickets got us in front of the game.
'Will Jacks and Ben Stokes had a good partnership today, and you never know what would happen if Stokesy is still at the crease.'
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