Smith out of 3rd Ashes test
Print Edition
Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes test beginning tomorrow after suffering concussion, Cricket Australia announced yesterday.
The 30-year-old — who has scored two centuries and 92 in his three innings in the first two tests — was felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer on Saturday in the first innings of the second test at Lord’s.
Smith’s absence will be a huge blow to Australia which holds a 1-0 lead in the five-match series and victory at Headingley would ensure it retains the Ashes.
Its other batsmen have not looked convincing — experienced opener David Warner has totalled just 18 in his four innings — with Smith being the lynch-pin.
“Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes test at Headingley, with coach Justin Langer confirming the news after the batsman sat out Australia’s training session on Tuesday,” Cricket Australia announced on its website.
The team doctor Richard Saw had the final say on whether Smith played or not and he was seen speaking with him during team training yesterday.
According to the website vice captain Pat Cummins patted Smith on the shoulder and Langer wrapped his arm round the former captain as the rest of the squad trained without him.
Smith — who has risen to No. 2 in the world batting rankings — was pictured with his head in his hands.
Smith, whose two centuries in the first test were pivotal in Australia taking a 1-0 lead, returned to bat on Saturday despite the blow to the side of the head that felled him. He added 12 runs before being out.
However, he was unable to play on the fifth and final day on Sunday as he awoke feeling “groggy.” Australia held on to draw the test with his concussion substitute Marnus Labuschagne playing a key innings.
The Ashes series is the first being played under the International Cricket Council’s new concussion substitute regulations, as part of the inaugural World Test Championship.
The regulations allow players who have suffered head or neck injuries to be replaced fully by a substitute, who was previously restricted to fielding alone.
Smith has two weeks to be ready for the fourth test in Manchester, which starts on September 4.
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