Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test slated to be held at Headingley in Leeds after failing to recover in time from the concussion he suffered at Lord’s. Australia head coach Justin Langer confirmed the news on Tuesday at the pre-match press conference. Smith looked a little passive in the Australian training and even sat out of the sessions at Leeds. The 30-year-old was hit on the neck from a Jofra Archer bouncer on the third day of the second Ashes Test and had to leave the field mid-way through his innings for a suspected concussion. ICC Test Rankings Latest: Steve Smith Jumps to No. 2 Spot Post Brilliant Batting in Ashes 2019.

Smith, who made an incredible return into the Australian Test team with successive centuries in back-to-back innings, suffered a concussion after being hit by Jofra Archer bouncer that left him on the ground towards the end of third day’s play in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. He initially retired hurt but later returned to bat as the last batsman in the first innings. Smith was then sent to the hospital for a concussion Test at the end of the day’s play and did not take the field on the final two days of the Lord’s Test.

Steve Smith Ruled Out

On his return to international Test cricket, after a year of suspension for masterminding the Sandpaper gate scandal alongside David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, Smith hit two centuries on his first Ashes Test. His twin tons – that helped equal Steve Waugh’s record of 10 Ashes Test centuries, helped Australia to a victory in the opening Test.

The right-handed batsman sat out of the training sessions at Leeds on Tuesday and appeared to be a little passive, perhaps still recovering from the hit he took from Archer on Friday. A report from Cricket Australia stated that team doctor Richard Saw had a little chat with the 30-year-old. Richard was instrumental in making the decision to keep Steve Smith out from coming back to the field. Cricket Australia’s concussion protocols also state that the Smith requires the approval of Dr Saw before he can resume playing.

Meanwhile, Smith also became the first bowler to be substituted after suffering a concussion having taken a blow to the neck from an Archer delivery. Manus Labuschagne came in as Smith’s replacement and even scored a fighting half-century to help Australia draw the second Test and preserve a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 20, 2019 03:47 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).