Former England skipper Alastair Cook believes the fiery clash between Steve Smith and Jofra Archer in Brisbane could be the moment that finally sparks England into life in an Ashes series lurching out of control for the visitors.
Cook compared the moment where Archer and Smith exchanged sledges near the end of the match, to the Jonny Bairstow run out by Alex Carey that ignited the previous Ashes series.
After that controversial moment helped Australia to a 2-0 lead, England came back to level the series, with their home support galvanised by the perceived injustice.
Writing in his TNT Sports column after England fell 2-0 behind, the former captain said the Smith vs Archer confrontation might prove a turning point for a side struggling to land a blow on Australia.
“You do cling to very small things when you’re desperate,” Cook wrote.
“And that fiery moment between Archer and Steve Smith in Australia’s second innings in Brisbane could really ignite England as a side.
“An Australian player, when they’re just about to win, lighting the fuse back at Archer – it’s a horrible place when the game’s done, because the opposition can afford to throw a few verbals, and you can’t answer back because you’ve just been thrashed.
“That might unite England, and they can regroup and go from there. They might need that – a bit like the Bairstow incident at Lord’s in 2023 – just to really remember how tough cricket in the Ashes can be, and they need to be tougher themselves.”
England captain Ben Stokes. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
Cook said the tourists “haven’t delivered anywhere near their potential,” in their two decisive losses.
“No one’s played well enough to capitalise on it. The players not doing themselves justice is quite hard to watch.”
He argued England now need to lift their performance in every discipline to have any chance of reviving the series.
“England just need to go up three levels, in batting, bowling and fielding,” Cook said. “They bowled really badly on day two in Brisbane. Certainly, with the bat, England haven’t been able to recognise certain moments and get through those moments, and it’s kept Australia in the game.”
Archer’s late burst on the third afternoon, when he hit speeds not seen since he debuted in 2019, was one of the few bright moments England could point to.
Cook said the fast bowler would need to reproduce that level when the series shifts to Adelaide.
“Jofra Archer bowled his fastest spell ever in Australia’s second innings when the game was absolutely dead,” Cook wrote.
“If they take that fire into Adelaide, and they look way more aggressive and they’re tuned up, then that little spell was important. He’s going to have to do that again, but it’s not just all on Jofra.”
Selection will again dominate the buildup to the third Test, but Cook does not expect Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum to overhaul the XI despite the mounting scrutiny. He said he would be surprised if England swung the axe unless a player was “psychologically shot” after the defeats.
“In terms of selection, I think England will stick fairly true to what they’ve got for the Adelaide Test,” he wrote.
“It would be a major surprise if they go any differently. You’re always a much better player when you’re out of the team than in the team. These players who have played are actually match hardened now, which is ironic.”
Cook noted Josh Tongue could come into consideration for Brydon Carse.
“Tactically, they might want Josh Tongue to come in to bowl that fuller, wicket taking length. I can’t see too many changes,” he wrote.
He said the dressing room after the Brisbane defeat would have been brutal, with England forced to confront the scale of their underperformance and the criticism that follows.
“Those dressing rooms are horrible places to be when you lose a game of cricket,” Cook said.
“And when you lose after not playing well, it’s even worse because you’ve not given the best version of yourself out there.”
With England needing to win all three remaining Tests to regain the Ashes, Cook said the challenge awaiting Stokes and McCullum was enormous. He believes the only way the tourists can shift the momentum is by raising individual standards across the board.
“They’ve almost got to play perfect cricket now,” he said. “The only way they turn around the narrative of this tour is by individually raising their standards. If a batter gets a 30, you have that underlying belief and determination to go on and get a match defining innings.”
He conceded that belief may be strained given England’s form but urged the team to embrace the pressure of trying to haul themselves back from a near hopeless position.
“It’s an exciting place to be because it’s down to you and it’s on your shoulders primarily, but it’s not easy because in the back of your mind it’s almost last chance saloon,” Cook said.
“It will be a real good test of Stokes and McCullum as leaders as to how they do it.”
“Is it possible? Yes. Is it likely? No, but they have to believe they can come back, otherwise they may as well get on the plane now.”