Skipper shaken in fiery tussle

A gripping and gruesome duel between Australia batsman Steve Smith and England paceman Jofra Archer dominated the fourth day of a second Ashes test at Lord’s.

Smith was on 80 and progressing towards a third straight century when a rising delivery by Archer, making his test debut, struck the Australian on the side of the neck and floored him yesterday.

Smith, who had earlier been smashed on the left forearm by Archer in an adrenaline-fuelled tussle in the middle session, was led from the field after receiving treatment but returned 40 minutes later after passing concussion tests. He was dismissed lbw by Chris Woakes for 92 and looked understandably shaken.

Australia was dismissed for 250, eight short of England’s first-innings total, and the hosts lost their top order to be 96-4 at stumps — a lead of 104 runs with a day remaining.

The Smith-Archer clash showcased the sport at its most visceral but it was also extremely worrying when Smith tumbled face-first to the ground, flicking off his helmet before rolling over and facing the sky.

The impact was brutal and Smith’s subsequent stillness, as medics from both teams dashed out, was truly concerning.

Smith was persuaded, somewhat reluctantly, to pause his innings but was back after 54 balls.

Whether he should have been encouraged to stay away from the crease is open to debate.

An uncharacteristically tame lbw to Woakes denied Smith another century — and it was followed by a moment of apparent confusion as he simultaneously walked off and signalled for the umpire’s decision to be reviewed.

Australian paceman Pat Cummins wasted no time after the changeover, removing Jason Roy (2) and Joe Root (0) in successive balls in his third over. Roy has scored just 45 in five innings as an opener, while Root nicked behind for his first golden duck in 153 test innings.

Veteran seamer Peter Siddle kept the pressure on by picking off two more of the top four, Joe Denly caught and bowled for 26 and Rory Burns edging behind for 29.

The draw looked the most likely result, with rain having wiped out the entire first day and two full sessions of the second day.