&#8216;Nothing going on, champion&#8217; &#8211; Steve Smith exchanges brutal words with Jofra Archer in heated Ashes clash

Dec 7, 2025 - 12:00

Jofra Archer and Steve Smith were involved in a very heated war of words near the end of the second Ashes Test.

After being set a measly 65 to win the day/night match at The Gabba, Australia actually lost two wickets to Gus Atkinson.

Australia's Steve Smith (L) has words to England's Jofra Archer (R) on day four of the second Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 7, 2025. (Photo by Patrick HAMILTON / AFP via Getty Images) / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- — Smith and Archer refused to shake hands at the end

This brought England’s nemesis Smith to the crease to face Archer.

The fast bowler had cranked his speeds up to well over 90mph, and he was determined to get the Aussie stand-in captain out.

Smith was involved in a great battle against Archer in the 2019 Ashes, but he has never lost his wicket to the England star.

And he wasn’t messing about and took on Archer.

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After scoring one boundary, there were some words exchanged before Archer nearly got Smith out.

And that was when the Aussie stand-in captain could be heard on the stump mic.

He said: “Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion.”

This was because Archer was bowling the fastest spell of the series so far with the Test nearly over.

Smith then dismissively smashed a few boundaries and scored the winning runs.

More words were exchanged, and they didn’t shake hands once Australia won, so that doesn’t feel like the end of that particular chapter.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 07: Jofra Archer of England and Australia captain Steve Smith exchange words during day four of the Second 2025/26 Ashes Series Test Match between Australia and England at The Gabba on December 07, 2025 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) — Archer and Smith have had a long-running battle

England's captain Ben Stokes (2nd L) walks with team mates after day four of the second Ashes cricket Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba in Brisbane on December 7, 2025. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP via Getty Images) / --IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE-- — It was another chastening defeat for England

Too little too late

Steve Harmison believes that Smith was kind of right to mention Archer’s speeds because they were down.

The England fast bowler has endured four years of injury hell, and it is even impressive that he’s made it Down Under.

However, England want him to bowl as quickly as he possibly can in short spells.

And on day two when they needed him to be at his top speed, he wasn’t.

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Following On: Ashes Inquest, he said: “The thing that frustrated me with Jofra Archer, when England needed him to stand up, yes he’s had 15 overs under his belt, if you’re not quite ready and not quite right and don’t have the miles in your legs overs 80-90 at the end of the day you can’t be bowling at 129kmh between those spells.

“Especially, if you can rock up and bowl 150kmh when they need 30 to win.

“What I can’t take is bowling 15mph slower to protect yourself.”

It has been a frustrating period of time for Archer after his initial brilliance in Perth

Smith vs Archer

Archer infamously knocked Smith on the helmet at Lord’s and ruled him temporarily out of the game.

He returned later on but was clearly concussed and got out soon after, though, it wasn’t Archer to nab him.

The two have now faced each other for several Tests, and Archer has bowled well over 200 balls to Smith without getting him out even once.

From England’s point of view, they need Archer fired up for the remainder of the series.

They are 2-0 down and now need every single player to stand and be counted because otherwise, it could turn into another embarrassing series Down Under.