There was another flashpoint in an increasingly hot-tempered Ashes series at Headingley, with Steve Smith turning and shouting in Jonny Bairstow’s direction following his dismissal to Moeen Ali on the second evening today (July 7).

Smith followed Marnus Labuschagne in falling to an aggressive stroke against Moeen, but while the only words Labuschagne said as he walked off were too himself, Smith heard something said to him by Bairstow and reacted.

Bairstow’s sledge was cheeky but innocuous, with stump mic revealing he had said, “See you later, Smudge.” But Smith’s reaction revealed the tense relations between the sides, as he turned and shot back, “What did you say mate? Hey!” Bairstow replied, “I said, ‘Cheers, see you later.”

Tension has simmered ever since Olle Robinson’s send-off to Usman Khawaja during the first Test at Edgbaston, with the England seamer defending shouting “f*** off, you f***ing p***k” at the Australia opener in the post-day presser. They then boiled over on the final day at Lord’s following Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow. Stuart Broad made clear his displeasure during his innings, telling Carey, “That’s all you’ll ever be remembered for,” while Ben Stokes suggested the dismissal wasn’t within the Spirit of Cricket.

England head coach Brendon McCullum said the two teams would be unlikely to share a beer anytime soon, with his Australian counterpart Andrew McDonald saying he was disappointed with McCullum’s statement. Both countries’ Prime Ministers have since weighed in, with Bairstow also revealing his feelings on the first day at Headingley, pointedly planting his bat ‘in’ and fixing a stare on the Australians.

The third Test remains evenly poised, with Australia four down and leading by 142 runs at stumps on day three.

Watch Steve Smith’s angry reaction to Jonny Bairstow below:

Poor smith 🤣🤣 #Bairstow #ashes pic.twitter.com/79RDUe9fq7

— Sebastien (@cpfcseb) July 7, 2023

"See ya, Smudge!" 👋

"What was that, mate?!? HEY!" 😠

Jonny Bairstow getting in Steve Smith's head 👀 pic.twitter.com/PyTKFuaC4s

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 7, 2023

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