Steve Smith Ruled Out Of Third Ashes Test

Everything was going right for Steve Smith until the brutal bouncer from Jofra Archer struck his helmet during the first innings of the second Ashes Test. As a result, he failed to come to bat in the second innings and now, ruled out of the third Ashes Test as well.

Smith was ruled out of the final day’s play in the second Test due to a delayed concussion after suffering a nasty blow on the back of his neck by a Jofra Archer bouncer on Day 4 of the Test match, which ended in a draw on Sunday.

Marnus Labuschagne had replaced Smith on the final day of the second match. It was the first time a player in international cricket was substituted under the new concussion rules. Coach Justin Langer confirmed his absence after Smith sat out Australia’s training session on Tuesday.

Steve Smith sat out during the training session:

The 30-year-old has scored two centuries and 92 in his three innings in the first two Tests — suffered a concussion when he was felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer on Saturday in the first innings of the second Test at Lord’s.

“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 their website.

Despite the blow, the flamboyant batsman has returned to bat later in the evening, going on to make 92 but was ruled out of the remainder of the game after showing symptoms of a concussion the following morning.

Smith has been the backbone of Australia’s batting in the two Tests so far and is the highest run-scorer from either side with 378 runs in 3 innings at an average of 126. He registered scores of 144 and 142 in Australia’s 251-run victory in the first Test while in the second match he missed his 26th Test hundred by 8 runs as the visitors managed to hold on to a draw.