92MPH HORROR AT LORD’S
Smith blow is reminder of Phillip Hughes tragedy
Aussie Smith laid out by Archer’s brutal barrage
AUSTRALIA were given a chilling reminder of their modern on-field tragedy when Steve Smith was floored by Jofra Archer’s bouncer on the fourth afternoon of the Lord’s Ashes Test.
There were echoes of the horrific incident in November 2014 when, during a Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales, Phillip Hughes was struck on the neck by a short ball delivered by Sean Abbott with fatal consequences.
Smith was also struck on the neck by a bolt-neck delivery from Ashes debutant Archer.
‘ You never l i ke s eeing your players getting hit like that,’ said Australia coach Justin Langer.
‘There are obviously some pretty rough memories from a blow like that. It was an ugly incident but thankfully Steve has come through it. Another 92, what an innings, what a player.’
Smith retired hurt on 80 and was surprisingly cleared to return at the fall of the next wicket.
Asked whether it was too soon to be sure Smith was fit to resume, Langer replied: ‘These players are like my sons so I don’t want any harm to come to any of them.
‘I asked him whether he was ok and he said he was ready to go. He told me: “I can get up on the honours board unless I’m out batting.”
Social media trolls focused on Archer and Jos Buttler laughing together at the end of the bowler’s mark during a lengthy stoppage for Smith to receive attention.
But the England sentiment was clear from Chris Woakes, the bowler who eventually dismissed him: ‘Ashes cricket is played hard and tough but we don’t wish injury on anyone, regardless of the situation in the game. It took a serious spell of bowling from Jofra to get Smith out of his bubble. It was serious pace.’
This was arguably the most hostile spell Australian have been subjected to by an England attack since the 2005 Ashes, the opening day of which left Ricky Ponting requiring plastic surgery to repair a cheek deeply gashed when Steve Harmison’s bouncer crashed into his grille.
During a ferocious eight-over spell of fast bowling from the pavilion end by England debutant Archer, Smith was struck by three blows in 25 minutes.
The first, in the 71st over of the innings, thudded into his forearm below the wristband Smith sports under his left elbow, triggering a first visit to the middle for Australia team physio David Beakley.
A compression bandage was applied to reduce the swelling and he took a painkiller before continuing his innings.
Then, after being wrapped on the gloves by an Archer bouncer which was clocked at 96.1 miles per hour, came the harrowing moment that Smith was felled.
After crumpling to the turf, Smith was rolled over by Buttler, his Rajasthan Royals team-mate, who had advanced from short leg to check on his well-being. Beakley was soon back on the scene while England medics also rushed out onto the field as Lord’s succumbed to a collective hush.
During a seven- minute delay, Richard Saw, Australia’s doctor, provided an on- field concussion test, comprising a set of questions — topics typically asked include where the game is being played, who bowled the ball, the name of the other batsman and where the last match was played.
Saw then persuaded Smith, who had insisted he wanted to carry on batting, it was in his best interests to retire hurt as a precautionary measure. Smith reluctantly agreed. Under new concussion guidelines introduced to coincide with the start of the World Test Championship on August 1, trained medical professionals, such as Saw, have the power to overrule batsmen that refuse to leave the field.
After being led from the playing area, and through the Long Room, Smith was taken into one of the medical rooms in the pavilion and given a cognitive test which measures response times to questions against a baseline of his speed in normal circumstances.
He was also given a balance assessment — which involves standing on one leg with eyes closed — before being passed to bat again. He
was doing so within half an hour. Smith returned to the crease again without stem guards, which offer extra protection to the back of the head, directly below the helmet.
He is known to have experimented with them in net practice a couple of years ago but did not find them comfortable and rejected the opportunity to use them permanently.
The 30- year- old added a further dozen runs with some unusually risky bottom-handed strokes — prompted by a lack of feeling in his left arm rather than any disorientation — before bizarrely reviewing his leg before dismissal without breaking stride, walking back to the pavilion.
That he did not field for England’s innings was due to a trip to hospital for an X-ray on the forearm. It revealed no fracture.
With regard to any potential delayed concussion, he will remain under continuous assessment for 36 hours.
From this series onwards, a player can be replaced by a likefor- like player, approved by the match referee, if symptoms of concussion are detected within this period and, as an extension of the protocols, the player removed cannot return to the field within six days from that point, which would effectively rule him out of the third Test at Headingley which starts next Thursday. Eighteen months ago, in relation to head injuries, the MCC’s cricket committee recommended that all helmets should conform to a minimum specification and that stem guards be made mandatory. The ICC produced helmet regulations in 2017 that requested all protective headgear was compliant with British standard. Those who do not adhere to the guidelines are liable to sanctions. There is no such obligation across the global game to wear stem guards. Stem guards clips are designed to pop off during impacts where the forces are sufficient to disform the grille.