Ashes 2019: Jofra Archer Imitates Steve Smith’s Unique Batting Stance in England Nets Ahead of Headingley Test (Watch Video)

Jofra Archer doesn’t only bowl beamers he bats too. And his batting style parallels the world’s best Test batsman of this generation. Archer, 24, was seen imitating Steve Smith in one of England’s training session ahead of the 3rd Ashes Test at Headingley Cricket Ground on Thursday. From copying the Australian batsman’s stance to leaving outside off-stump deliveries in a way only Smith could, Archer did it all at the England nets. England vs Australia 3rd Test, Ashes 2019: Jofra Archer Shines as Rain Curtails 1st Session at Headingley.

Archer, who bowled the most-important SuperOver in the ICC Cricket World Cup final against New Zealand that handed England its maiden World Cup triumph, is already a hit in English whites after playing just one Test. The Barbados born fast bowler made his England Test debut during the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord’s and finished with figures of 6/91 as England and Australia played out a draw. Australia currently leads the five-match Test series 1-0. Kevin Pietersen finds out a hilarious way of tackling Jofra Archer's bouncers.

Steve Smith or Jofra Archer?

But it was his bouncers that his wickets, that hurt Australia the most at Lord’s. Archer hit Cameron Bancroft, Smith and Marnus Labuschagne on their heads across both the innings in the Lord’s Test. But it was Archer’s hit to Smith, that hurt the defending Ashes champions the most. The blow left Australia without their best batsman for the remainder of the second Test and also the third Ashes Test at Headingley.

The incident occurred on the fourth day during Australia’s first innings when Smith was batting at 80. A rising Archer bouncer at over 90mph hit the 30-year-old right-handed batsman on the back of his neck. Smith, who was attempting to leave the delivery, immediately collapsed to the ground and was forced to leave the field for suspected concussion.

Smith, however, later returned to bat towards the end of the first innings but was ruled out from participating any further in the game after showing signs of a delayed concussion as a result of the blow. His substitution, Labuschagne suffered a similar hit on his first delivery at the crease but went to play a match-saving inning to help Australia draw the game.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 22, 2019 08:33 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).