Steve Smith has been officially ruled out of the upcoming third Ashes test as he was not completely recovered from the concussion. Smith was hit by a bouncer on his neck by Jofra Archer at Lord’s in the Second Ashes Test.
On Tuesday, Smith came along with his team to the ground for practice but was not trained. He was seen in a private conversation with the coach Justin Langer on one side of the pitch before he had a talk with doctor Richard Saw.
While the rest of the team was in their practice session, the former Captain and commentator Mark Taylor joined Smith in the middle while the official confirmation came out from the Langer about Smith’s withdrawal.
At day four of a draw at Lord’s Steve Smith was hit by a deadly 148 kmph bouncer by Archer while batting in the field. He was retired hurt and left the ground and after a 40 min break and few medical checks, the former captain was back on the field and played a brave knock of 92.
The next morning Smith has seen reporting headaches and dizziness and failed the cognitive test. Later he was substituted out of the match in accordance with the new ICC concussion protocol.
Marnus Labuschagne, who came into Xl as a substitute, was struck on the helmet again in the nets by Mitchell Starc. Fortunately, Labuschagne was fine after the doctor put him through a concussion test.
Labuschagne made a match-saving 59 as Smith’s substitute at Lord’s is most likely to replace the former Australia captain in the playing XI in Leeds.
Smith made a twin century at the Edgbaston the week before had helped set up the team at a lead of 1-0 in the Test. But it was unfortunate to miss him out in the third Ashes Test.
