Yuvraj Singh, Shoaib Akhtar
England players check on Steve Smith. Credit: Getty Images

Though Steve Smith played an exceptional knock in the first innings of the second Test, it was the bouncer from Jofra Archer to the batsman, which caught the headlines. A lot of former cricketers and the fans expressed their concern for the right-handed batsman. One of them was Shoaib Akhtar. But, surprisingly, he got a surprise reply from his dear friend from India, Yuvraj Singh.

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Steve Smith was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the neck by a short ball from England fast bowler Jofra Archer on the fourth day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Saturday. Smith had moved on to 80 not out when he was hit by Archer, who bowled a hostile spell from the Pavilion End during which his deliveries reached speeds of 96 miles per hour.

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Archer was spotted laughing along with fellow cricketer Jos Buttler when Smith fell face forward onto the ground. Jofra Archer, making his Test debut, had previously struck Smith on his unprotected forearm with another bouncer during a fiery eight-over spell that cost 31 runs.

Steve Smith | Jofra Archer
Steve Smith (Credits: Twitter)

Bouncers are part and parcel of the game – Shoaib Akhtar

Meanwhile, Shoaib Akhtar didn’t like the reaction from Jofra Archer. In his tweet, regarding the same, quoted that Jofra Archer should have shown his concern to Steve Smith rather than moving away. And also, stated that he used to show his concern to the batsman. Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh gets into the frame by revealing the actual truth.

”Bouncers are a part & parcel of the game but whenever a bowler hits a batsman on the head and he falls, courtesy requires that the bowler must go & check on him. It was not nice of Archer to just walk away while Smith was in pain. I was always the first one to run to the batsman,” Shoaib Akhtar tweeted.

Yuvraj Singh, Shoaib Akhtar
Twitter

Yuvraj, replied saying: “Yes you did! But your actual words were hope your alright mate cause there are a few more coming”.

 

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However, England pacer Jofra Archer on Sunday insisted that he did not intend to hit Steve Smith on the neck, adding that every player on the pitch “skipped a heartbeat” as the Australian cricketer fell flat on the ground.

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