Steve Smith play the 4th Ashes Test: The star Australian batsman was ruled out of the ongoing third 2019 Ashes Test at Headingley.
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Australia star batsman Steve Smith was ruled out of the ongoing third Test of the 2019 Ashes series between England and Australia. The blow to the visiting team came as an aftermath of Smith getting hit behind his neck by England fast bowler Jofra Archer.
While Smith returned to resume his batting after nearly half an hour, he didn’t take the field after Australia was bundled out in the first innings. Eventually ruled out from both the second and third Test, it was all-rounder Marnus Labuschagne who became the first concussion substitute in Test cricket.
Last 3 Test scores of Virat Kohli and Steve Smith. #Cricket
0, 23, 9 – Kohli
144, 142, 92 – Smith— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 22, 2019
Will Steve Smith play the 4th Ashes Test vs England?
In a development which seems to be favouring the Australian team, Smith looks set to play the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester. Cricket Australia have recently confirmed that Smith had his third running session in three days and has showed no signs of being concussed anymore.
It is worth mentioning that Smith has also batted once since getting hit. There is no hiding to the fact that Smith’s presence will bolster the Australian lineup in the penultimate Test of the series.
It was assumed that Smith’s absence will affect the visitors adversely in Leeds. Signs of the same were evident when England dismissed Australia on 179 in 52.1 overs in the first innings. However, since then the visiting team has registered a stellar comeback in the match.
Already 1-0 up in the series, another victory for Australia will mean that the urn will remain with them irrespective of the outcome of the last two Test matches. The fourth Test will begin from September 4.
