Tale of two skippers

Steve Smith’s laughter has caused the latest barney in an Ashes that is becoming increasingly heated, with counterpart Joe Root vowing to use it as extra motivation in the day- night test that starts today.

Smith struggled to contain himself while sitting alongside Cameron Bancroft during the post- match press conference following the first test, which Australia won by 10 wickets.

Bancroft had almost the entire room in stitches with his deadpan delivery, claiming he has the heaviest head in Western Australia’s squad while recalling the night Jonny Bairstow headbutted him.

But Root was far from impressed with the hysterical conduct of Smith at the posttest press conference.

“If that’s not motivation to the players, I don’t know what is. Seriously,” Root said on the eve of the second test at Adelaide Oval.

“Hopefully that will work massively in our favour. Knowing the characters in our dressing room, that will really give them a bit of something else to make sure we put things right this week.” —