WATCH: Steve Smith and Jonny Bairstow exchange words after Smith’s dismissal during 3rd Ashes Test

During Day 2 of the third Ashes Test at Headingley, Leeds, Australia batter Steve Smith and England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow exchanged some words. When Smith left the third session on Friday, things between the two players heated up. The experienced Australian batter has already faced the heat of the English audience in the series, as every time he reaches the middle to bat, he is greeted with loud boos.

Bairstow got into Smith’s head when Moeen Ali beat him cheaply on the second day of the Headingley Test. Smith ran down the field in an effort to play the big shot, but he mistimed it and was caught by Ben Duckett in short mid-wicket. Jonny Bairstow hasn’t done much with the bat in this Ashes series aside from a half-century in the first Test, and his glovework behind the wickets has been mediocre, but the English batter has managed to stay in the spotlight.

Here’s the video

Ashes cricket >>>> pic.twitter.com/0yLtI4tQTJ

— England's Barmy Army 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) July 7, 2023

See ya, Smudge: Jonny Bairstow

After Smith got out, as he was making his way back to the dugout, Bairstow was heard saying from the stump mic, “See ya, Smudge!” Smith, who got infuriated with the comment, said, “What was that, mate?!? HEY!” To which the English wicketkeeper replied, “I said, ‘Cheers, see ya later’.”

Smith is making his 100th Test appearance, and he has failed to make an impact in both innings. In this match, he could only achieve low scores like 22 and 2. Notably, this was also the 200th Test wicket for all-rounder Moeen Ali. England captain Ben Stokes’ made an explosive 80 and kept the Ashes hopes alive for the hosts.

Australia were 116-4 in their second innings at stumps on the second day, a 142-run advantage, as they sought to go 3-0 ahead in the five-match series and win the Ashes for the first time in England since 2001. David Warner was dismissed by Stuart Broad’s once more, getting out to him for the 17th time in Test cricket.

Mitchell Marsh was 17 not out, having already scored a first Test in nearly four years with a stunning run-a-ball 118 in Australia’s first-innings 263, while Travis Head was unbroken on 18. The pair’s 155-run combination was critical in sealing a first-innings advantage.