![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2250490700.jpg\")
\n\t\tJofra Archer and Steve Smith were involved in a heated clash during Australia\u2019s crushing defeat of England (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\n\t\tJofra Archer and Steve Smith were involved in a heated clash during Australia\u2019s crushing defeat of England (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
Steve Smith couldn\u2019t resist having a pop at Jofra Archer as he steered Australia<\/a> to a dominant eight-wicket win over England to go 2-0 up in the Ashes.<\/p>\n England\u2019s hopes of a first series win Down Under since 2010\/11 were dealt another devastating blow as they slumped to a heavy and humbling defeat on the fourth day of an utterly one-sided pink-ball Test in Brisbane<\/a>.<\/p>\n The tourists were already up against it having lost inside just two days in Perth<\/a>, but Joe Root<\/a>\u2019s stunning century gave Ben Stokes\u2019<\/a> men a fighting chance before Australia\u2019s first innings.<\/p>\n However, the hosts roared back emphatically by posting a score of 511, the fifth-highest Test total without an individual century, to pile the pressure back on England.<\/p>\n England managed 241 in response to give themselves a lead of just 64, which Australia duly dispatched in the space of ten overs, with Smith smashing Archer for six to finish 23 not out and carry his team over the line.<\/p>\n Standing in for the injured Pat Cummins as captain, Smith appeared back to his frightening best at the Gabba after a quiet opening Test, even succeeding in getting under the skin of the usually calm and collected Archer in the closing stages.<\/p>\n The pair \u2013 whose 2019 contest has gone down in Ashes folklore<\/a> \u2013 were seen exchanging a few choice words in the middle after Archer tested a fired-up Smith with a rapid bouncer.<\/p>\n \t\t \u2018Bowl fast when there\u2019s nothing going on, champion,\u2019 Australia\u2019s stand-in skipper was heard saying to Archer on the stump mic.<\/p>\n While the tension between lingered for the remainder of Archer\u2019s over, the duo were seen shaking hands not long after as Australia cruised to victory.<\/p>\n \u2018What history do I have with him?\u2019 Smith replied when asked about his supposed \u2018history\u2019 with the England pace bowler during a press conference shortly after their altercation.<\/p>\n \u2018I\u2019m not really too sure what he said and I\u2019m not sure what I said either. It\u2019s not really any of your business either!\u2019<\/p>\n \t\t A visibly disconsolate Stokes didn\u2019t hold back with his assessment of England\u2019s performance as he spoke to TNT Sports in the immediate aftermath of their latest setback.<\/p>\n With the touring team needing to win all three remaining Tests to take home the urn, Stokes questioned his side\u2019s mentality and demanded more fight from his team-mates when matches \u2018are on the line\u2019.<\/p>\n \u2018When the game is on the line, teams are able to handle that pressure better than us,\u2019 the England captain said.<\/p>\n To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web \u2018We are a great team when we are ahead, when we are behind and playing huge catch-up we are great, but when then game is on the line we are not able to stand up to pressure. That is obvious as a captain.<\/p>\n \u2018It\u2019s a mentality, a mindset. How you get yourself into a head space to make clear decisions is so important to be successful at this level.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018No-one means to drop catches or not bowl where you are supposed to but those things cannot happen at this level.\u2019<\/p>\n Stokes added: \u2018We knew exactly how we needed to bowl and we weren\u2019t able to do it for a long enough period to put Australia under pressure, that was evident in the way they were able to score so quickly and easily.<\/p>\n \u2018We weren\u2019t able to execute with bat and ball and we\u2019ll be having some conversations in the dressing room.<\/p>\n \u2018It seems to be a constant theme that when the pressure is on, Australia keep outdoing us. They say Australia is not a place for weak men and we are definitely not weak but we need to find something.\u2019<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"CRICKET-AUS-ENG-ASHES\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2249856739.jpg\")
\n\t\tSmith hit the winning runs for Australia at the Gabba (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n![\"Australia](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/GettyImages-2250491150.jpg\")
\n\t\tStokes questioned England\u2019s character after the loss (Picture: Getty)<\/p>\n
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\nMORE: Michael Vaughan says England star\u2019s place is under \u2018huge threat\u2019 after defeat to Australia<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Brad Haddin slams England star over \u2018unacceptable\u2019 mistake in second Ashes Test<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Why is Steve Smith wearing black tape under his eyes in the Ashes?<\/a><\/p>\n