'Shame': Cricket fans fume over 'pathetic' Jofra Archer moment

England quick Jofra Archer has enraged fans after he appeared to share a smile with batsman Jos Buttler only moments after Steve Smith was laid out with a bouncer that him on the back of the neck.

Smith copped a frightening blow on day four of the second Ashes Test, when he misread a Jofra Archer delivery that could have done serious damage.

Batting partner Pat Cummins and a stack of fielders rushed to Smith, while Australia's team doctor Richard Saw sprinted out to the middle and insisted the batsman retired hurt.

But fans became incensed after the camera flicked to Archer - as Smith lay on the wicket - sharing a smile with Buttler.

Many took to social media to slam Archer for apparently showing a lack of “compassion” in a scary moment for the batsman.

Some also defended the quick bowler claiming he clearly wasn’t laughing at the situation.

Despite the incident, Smith was cleared of any serious injury and came back out to finish his innings.

The tussle between Archer and the mercurial Smith will go down as classic.

Greats slam Lords shameful response

There was a standing ovation when Smith walked off the ground, most members of the crowd also stood and applauded when he resumed his knock.

But some of England's supporters opted to boo the batsman, who has copped plenty of abuse and jeers during both the World Cup and Ashes in his comeback tour from a year-long suspension, at both junctures.

Ian Healy, who is hosting Nine Network's coverage of the showpiece series, was shocked.

"It was disgusting," Healy said.

"Lord's won't be happy with that either. They don't like any 'yobbo' element of crowd behaviour."