Jofra Embarrassed Himself And His Team: Ponting Reacts To Archer-Smith Clash During Gabba Test
Gabba Test: Former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting, reacting to the verbal clash between Jofra Archer and Australian captain Steve Smith during the second Ashes Test, said the England pacer embarrassed himself by failing to deliver the pace and aggression when it was most needed earlier in the match. Engaged in a fiery exchange on Day 4 of the day-night Test, when Archer fired down a searing short ball to Smith, which dispatched it to the boundary with an impressive pull shot. The next delivery was again short, and Smith attempted to lift it over the slip cordon, sparking a reaction from Archer, who directed a few verbal barbs at the Aussie skipper. Archer was picked up on the stump mic, saying, Likes to play shots when theres not much on the scoreboard. It lit a fuse under Smith who returned serve, the stump microphone picking up the exchange. You bowl fast when theres nothing going on champion, Smith said. Ponting, who was in the commentary box during the match, opined that Archer had embarrassed himself and the team. 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 havent been many games that Ive commentated that I wish I was back playing again. But I wish I was out there the other night as part of that, because thats what you miss and thats what its all about, Ponting told 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, its been up his sleeve, and England have needed him to do it, and he hasnt been willing to do it. 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 havent been many games that Ive commentated that I wish I was back playing again. But I wish I was out there the other night as part of that, because thats what you miss and thats what its all about, Ponting told SEN. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Theyre just going to rock up and Australias going to fall over and well bowl them out. Well, that doesn't happen against Australia, it doesn't happen in Ashes cricket, he added. Article Source: IANS
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