‘Smith’s health was No.1’: Coach

STEVE Smith assured Australian coach Justin Langer multiple times he was ready to bat again at Lord’s after taking a blow to the neck that rattled the entire dressing room and sent shudders throughout the ground.

Cricket Australia also backed its concussion protocols after Smith passed three different tests following Jofra Archer’s vicious bouncer, which forced him to retire hurt and leave the field.

Smith, who was on 80, wanted to bat in the moments straight after the short ball struck him just below his left ear, a blow that left the 30year-old lying on the Lord’s pitch in scenes that evoked memories of the death of Phil Hughes.

But team doctor Richard Saw, after an on-field concussion test that included simple questions about where they were and who bowled the ball, ordered Smith to retire hurt.

He was taken inside the team medical room for further examinations, which included a further two concussion tests. Smith passed both the SCAT5 and Cogsport tests, which are required under CA concussion protocols.

Medical staff also reviewed a replay of the incident but Smith, who had also been given a painkiller for his arm after also being hit by Archer, was adamant he was good to go.

“I was actually surprised that as soon as he got up in the medical room, he was like ‘nah, I’m going OK’,” Langer said after confirming Smith would take part in the rest of the game if he passed another test before plays started last night.

“He had the concussion testing that he goes through. The doctor came through and said he’s passed all that and he’s pretty good.

“We asked him over and over again. I asked him privately, I asked him behind closed doors two or three times. I asked him in front of the group, he just kept going ‘all good, all good coach. I’m ready to go’.

“He was going ‘mate, I just want to get out there. I can’t get up on the honours board unless I’m out batting’.”