Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting slammed England pacer Jofra Archer for his late surge during the Ashes 2025 defeat at Gabba, getting involved in a war of words and fiery exchange with Australia captain Steve Smith shortly before the hosts romped to an eight-wicket win.
Ponting, on commentary duties, didn’t mince his words as he tore into Archer’s antics well after the game had sailed from England’s grasp, pushing them down 0-2 in the five-match series.
Shortly before Smith wrapped up the win with a quickfire cameo with a six and four behind the square off Archer, the England quick attempted a jibe at the Aussie No. 4.
“You only play those shots when there’s not much on the score, mate,” Archer was quoted as saying to the stand-in Aussie captain.
Smith’s riposte would go viral on social media. “[You only] Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on, champion,” he snapped back at Archer.
Ponting would approve of Smith’s response before proceeding to lambast Archer.
“Bowl fast when there’s nothing going on champion.”
Steve Smith v Jofra Archer was seriously spicy 🍿 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/jfa4PiZyb2
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 7, 2025
“I like it, I like it. Jofra’s finally come to life, six days into the series, when the second Test match is gone — he starts chirping. Too late for that, champ. That’s what Smithy said to him as well, ‘Bowling quick now, mate, when the game is over — good on ya’,” said Ponting while commenting for Channel 7.
“Now they’ve all started. Too late, boys. You’ve had your chance for four days. You haven’t been good enough, (and) it’s too late to start,” he added.
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Ponting said he would not want to jinx Smith’s superior record over Archer even if the general perception would still be that the England bowler has had the wood over him. During their first Test meeting six years ago at Lord’s, Archer had famously felled Steve Smith with a rip-snorting bouncer, taking him out of the Test with a concussion. However, Smith has still not been dismissed by Archer across 220 deliveries in Test cricket, amassing 130 runs.
“I’m not going to say anything because I don’t want to jinx it, I’m just going to let everyone read exactly what it is. The perception going around, certainly around the UK, is that Archer’s had the wood on Steve Smith — well, that is factually incorrect,” said Ponting.
“It’s game on now. This is what Ashes cricket’s all about. The hairs on the back of my neck are standing up, I can tell you that right now,” he added, before play had finished,” he added.
