SMITH IN BATTLE TO PLAY 3RD TEST
Star ‘feeling better’ but chances of playing low
STEVE Smith was playing cards on the team bus as the Australians made the fourhour journey from London to Leeds.
The star batsman, who at Lord’s became the first player subbed out of a Test with concussion, reported he was feeling much better 24 hours after waking up with a feeling of “grogginess”.
He had what will be a daily concussion test before the team left London, and will need to continue to show no symptoms before he is even allowed to walk laps at training.
Smith is in a race against time to be ready for the start of tomorrow’s third Ashes Test.
Opinion is divided about the Cricket Australia concussion policy, which doesn’t mandate a specific time out of the game.
Instead, the CA policy calls for “ongoing assessment”.
Team doctor Richard Saw will have the final say on whether Smith can take part in any activity.
He will be tested again daily, before and again after any training he is allowed to do, but had only yesterday and today to get into the nets to face the bowling he needed to be passed fit.
Generally accepted medical guidelines require a five-day break after a concussion diagnosis, which would rule Smith out of the Test.
After arriving in Leeds on Monday afternoon, vice-captain Travis Head said Smith was in “good spirits”, but that was no guarantee he was ready to play.
“I saw him this morning and he said he was feeling much better, so that is a positive,” Head said.
“I think the doc has been doing a fantastic job so far on tour with everyone. He had a busy week and I know he was looking after him pretty well; he is in good hands.”