BravestTIME IS of RUNNINGfaces as OUT Smith FOR SMITH ruled out

AUSTRALIA are confident they can retain the Ashes in CRICKET: Steve Smith was Leeds without Steve Smith, playing cards on the team bus who has been officially ruled as they made the four-hour out of the third Test because of journey from London to Leeds. concussion.

The star batsman, who at Smith, suffering a delayed Lords’s become the first player concussion after being struck subbed out of a Test with conon the neck by a Jofra Archer cussion, also reported he was bouncer at Lord’s, will not take feeling much better after wakthe field when the series coning up with a feeling of “groggitinues in Leeds at Headingley. ness” the morning after being

Smith is in far better spirits hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer. than on Sunday, when he be

Smith underwent what will came become the a first daily concussed concussion cricktest eter before to be the substituted team left out London of an international and will need match, to continue but the to tight show turnaround no symptoms was before always he is going even to allowed count against to walk him. laps at training. The former skipper failed to train Smith on Tuesday, is in a race when against the touring time to be party ready had for the their start first of session the third since Ashes arriving Test tomorrow in Leeds. with Smith opinion had divided a long chat about with the coach Cricket Justin Australia Langer concussion while inspecting policy, which the pitch doesn’t and mandate talked with a specific team doctor time away Richard from Saw, the cutting game after a dejected a diagnosis. figure in both Instead conversations. the CA policy calls for Shadow “ongoing batting assessment” and walkfrom ing team was doctor as rigorous Richard as Saw it was who to get has for the Smith, final say who on debriefed whether with Smith mentor can take Mark part Taylor in any after acfinally tivity. giving up hope of facing England. He will be tested before and after Cricket any training Australia’s he is allowed concussion to do, but and has head only trauma today to polget icy in the dictated nets to the face only the opinion bowling that he needs mattered to be in passed Smith’s fit. selection Generally battle was accepted that of Dr medical Saw. guidelines The absence require of a the five-day talismanic break run after glutton a concussion shapes diagas a major nosis, which blow would to Australia’s rule Smith hopes out of of the retaining Test. the urn with victory After in arriving Leeds. in Leeds yesterday, Marnus vice-captain Labuschagne, Travis having Head delivered said Smith a match-saving was in “good 59 spirits” while but filling thatwas in for no Smith guaran- on tee he was ready to play. day “I five saw at him Lord’s, this morning will need and to he said he was feeling much step up again. better so that is a positive,”

The pressure will also rise Head said. on Travis Head, who has been

“I think the doc has been doAustralia’s best-performing ing a fantastic job so far on tour batsman on the tour outside with everyone. He had a busy Smith. week and I know he was look

“It (the Lord’s draw) ing after him pretty well, he is showed that without Steve, we in good hands. were able to get the job done

“So hopefully in the next which is a positive,” Head said. couple of days he is able to rest

“Steve is obviously in great up and comes good and it is just nick and playing beautifully at that process he has to go the minute. But obviously, through.

Marnus “But he came seemed in in and good played spirbeautifully. its today on He the has bus, been he is playfantastic ing cards over again here and in the is himself. county season It was – good got a to lot see.” of hundreds.

“Wadey Head wore got protective a hundred stem at Edgbaston, guards on so his I helmet think we for have the got first guys time who at Lord’s are in and form said ... we he have would got likely the to batting continue in with the sheds them that for the can rest do the of the job.” series.

Dr Cricket Saw Australia was kept is explorbusy throughout ing ways to the make second them Test comas Australia pulsory, andhead held on to expects a 1-0 series that lead to happen despite sooner their batsmen rather than suffering later. a stack of blows to the body, “I guess arm and with head. the conditions in The Australia medico you will can continue sway out to assess of the Smith way, the regularly bounce and is quite remains true,” he in said. sole control of his gradual “I think return what to activity. we have seen at “The Lord’s, doc with has the been slope, doing there a fantastic was a lot job of balls so far following on tour with bateveryone. ters and going He down had the a slope. busy I week,” wore it Head and probably said. “I know will wear he’s looking it for the after rest him of the pretty series. well – he is “The in good wickets hands.” are a little bit slower Smith’s and setback …. as you’ve increases seen the with likelihood Steve getting of under-preshit you can sure get Cameron yourself into Bancroft tricky retainposiing tions. his spot at the top of the order. “I think it’ll become mandatory However, …. Imay selectors as well get are used liketo ly it to now consider and then promoting start putting Mitch Marsh them on. or I guess, Marcus it is Harris just better in place to be of safe Bancroft. than copping one.” CRICKET: Jofra Archer hit the heads and bodies of Australian batsmen 19 times in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in a fiery warning of what’s to come from England’s newest bowling weapon.

A two-paced wicket at Lord’s played a massive role in the number of head and body shots that shook batsmen from both sides, including Australia’s Steve Smith who was struck a sickening blow in the neck by an Archer bouncer.

Despite the concern about batsmen being hit and the risk of major injury, there’s unlikely to be any let-up this week with England captain Joe Root declaring Archer would be let loose again to match anything Australia’s bowlers dish up.

The blow Smith took to the neck was just one of two hits he received trying to get away from a short bowling assault by Archer.

Archer’s ferocious attack, combined with the field placings for him – with two men close to the bat and a packed leg-side field – prompted some observers to liken it to the infamous “bodyline’’ series.

But Australian spearheads Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood delivered their own series of short balls to rough up the English batsmen and it didn’t go unnoticed by Root.

He said his team, now armed with Archer, was willing to fight fire with fire and expected a whole lot more short stuff in the final three Tests, regardless of pitch conditions.

“It’s very different to the other options we have had previously, it’s a different skill,” Root said of the ability to sustain short-bowling.

“This wicket made it very difficult … it was very inconsistent in terms of the pace and bounce, quite difficult to get under the ball.

“And with two short legs, a man around the corner, standing up and playing it doesn’t seem like a good option. That had a big impact, and because of it, you might see a little bit more of it throughout (the series).

“We always try and prepare for everything Australia might throw at us. And it’s something we will make sure we are ready to go with at Headingley.” — Russell Gould