Ashes 2023 has witnessed some heated moments between players of both England and Australia already. There was an addition to that list on Friday when star Australian batter Steve Smith and England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow had a heated exchange of words during Day 2 of the third Test match at Headingley, Leeds. The incident happened after Smith got out in the final session of the day.
While Smith has been getting booed by the English fans in this series, this time around a send off from Bairstow did not seem to please him. Smith lost his cool when after getting out to Moeen Ali for just two runs post being caught by Ben Duckett, Bairstow cheekily said: "See ya Smudge." However, the Australian batter was irked and responded: "What was that mate." When no response came his way, he again said: "Hey" to which Bairstow replied: "I said, cheers see ya later."
Take a look at the video here:
Meanwhile, the Aussies are leading by 142 runs at Stumps on Day 2. While Australia scored 263 runs in the first innings, England responded with 237. In the second innings, Australia will resume their innings at 116/4 on Day 3. Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh are unbeaten in the middle. Moeen has been the wrecker-in-chief for England so far in the second innings, having removed Marnus Labuschagne in addition to the wicket of Smith.
In the first innings, it was Marsh who scored a century (118) for Australia and took them to a competitive score and Australia would hope that he continues his form in the second innings as well, given they find themselves in a tricky situation. Mark Wood scalped a fifer for England in the first innings but his yet to find his maiden scalp in the second innings with Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes with a wicket apiece being the other wicket-takers.
Meanwhile, for England, captain Ben Stokes top-scored with 80. It was the Australian captain Pat Cummins who had the best figures with the ball in the England innings as he finished with 6 for 91.