Legendary Australia cricketer Ricky Ponting was highly critical of Jofra Archer for his verbal exchange with Steve Smith in the second Ashes Test. According to him, Archer "embarrassed" himself by not being able to perform well and for only showing aggression with the game well beyond England's reach.
Smith's strong reply to Archer
Notably, after Archer tried to rile up Smith and had a heated verbal exchange with him on the fourth day of the Brisbane Test, the Australia batter went on to punish him by hitting a boundary and six each later in the over. Ponting, who was commentating during the match, wished that he was playing again. He further criticised Archer for not performing upto the mark when England required him to do so.
“When I ‘championed’ him, I could actually hear what Steve Smith had said to him in the stump mic. Smithy said champion, and then that’s just what came out of my mouth, but it just got me going and got the hairs on the back of my neck standing up. There haven’t been many games that I’ve commentated that I wish I was back playing again. But I wish I was out there the other night as part of that, because that’s what you miss and that’s what it’s all about," Ponting was quoted as saying on SEN.
“But look, for Jofra, he just embarrassed himself, and he embarrassed his team the other night, that’s what I make of that. To bowl his fastest spell ever in Test cricket, when Australia’s chasing 60… it (the fast spell) has been there the whole time, it’s been up his sleeve, and England have needed him to do it, and he hasn’t been willing to do it. Day 3, when they needed him to do it, he rocks up with his pillow under his arm, and that was always going to be a bad day for England from that moment. As soon as anyone saw that it was going to be ‘Okay, there’s their mindset for the day," he added.
Australia one win away from clinching the Ashes
Meanwhile, Australia head into the third Test leading the series by 2-0. They received a big boost ahead of the Adelaide Test as skipper Pat Cummins was confirmed to make his comeback after missing out on the first two matches due to fitness concerns. If the Baggy Greens do go on to win the upcoming match, then they will seal the series with two games left to play.
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Australia's squad for 3rd Ashes Test: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.