Ashes 2019 - Steven Smith Given A Green Signal After Coping With Jofra Archer's Bouncer

Australia’s team management can breathe a sigh of relief as their talismanic batsman Steven Smith has been given a green signal. Smith was taken for precautionary scans after he was dismissed for 92 runs in the first innings of the second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s. The right-hander was first hit on the hand with a nasty bouncer from Jofra Archer and he was attended by the team’s physio.

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Subsequently, Smith had to deal with another thunderbolt from Archer which hit him on the neck. Smith was knocked out and this time he had to retire hurt. However, he was given the green signal to once again bat and resumed his innings in style with a big shot against Chris Woakes.

Smith is in sublime form.

After getting out, Smith was taken for precautionary scans in which he was given the all-clear.

“Steve was hit on the neck below the left ear,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “He was assessed lying on the pitch at the instructions of team doctor Richard Shaw.

“Dr Shaw made the precautionary decision to remove Steve from the field of play to have him further assessed under Cricket Australia’s head impact protocol. Steve then passed his assessments and will now be monitored on an ongoing basis, as is routine.”

Meanwhile, Steven Smith holds the key for Australia as he has been the best batsman of the series thus far by a distance. Smith scored a magnificent knock of 92 runs but missed the century landmark after he misjudged Chris Woakes incoming delivery and decided to leave it.

“It’s hard to watch, he’s in good spirits tonight and he passed all the concussion protocol,” Australia coach Justin Langer said.

“It was a nervous time. He’ll have another test for concussion in the morning, thankfully his arm is OK as well. He is an incredible player and as long as he passes the guidelines I am sure he will be out there tomorrow.

“There is no way we would have let him come back out if he wasn’t healthy.”

The second Test match is heading towards the draw, however, the only team who can win the match now is Australia. England currently leads by 104 runs and they have six wickets in the bag. The final day of the Test match will be played today at Lord’s.

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