It has been a long summer. For some, it seems, too long. In what started out as one of the better-natured Ashes contests, by day three of the final Test it had deteriorated into a flurry of bitter verbal volleys between players.

This is not the first time this summer that sledges have been exchanged, but in a series of heated remarks at the Oval there was an added layer of menace.​

Steve Smith, perhaps the one man who really does need look no further than let his bat to do the talking, was the first to be heard showing his frustration. On a rare day of English domination with the bat, the leading run scorer was heard on the stump microphones telling Joe Denly, who is currently the top run-scorer in this match: “It’s an easy game when there’s no pressure on, eh?”

Matthew Wade, a familiar voice to those watching the series on the television, then appeared to have a few sharp words to say to Joe Root, but these were inaudible on the broadcast feed. Only Root’s response – “You can’t have it all your own way” – came through before the on-field umpires were seen warning Wade about his comments.​