Jofra Archer reveals his ‘heart skipped a beat’ after KOing Steve Smith and Ashes incident bought back memories of tragic Phil Hughes
JOFRA ARCHER revealed his “heart skipped a beat” when he floored Steve Smith with a bouncer.
The Australian batsman hit the deck after being struck in the neck by Archer’s 92mph bumper on the fourth day of the Second Test at Lord’s.
Aussie coach Justin Langer admitted the incident brought back memories of when Phil Hughes was killed by a bouncer in 2014.
And England quick Archer, who clocked 96mph on Saturday, said: “To see him go down, everyone stopped and everyone's heart skipped a beat.
“Honestly, I don’t know what I was thinking at the time.
“Seeing someone go down, you don’t ever want to see anyone getting carried off on a stretcher, or you don’t want to see anyone missing the day or missing the game.
“Especially what happened a few years ago as well. It’s never a nice sight.
";After he got up he was moving around and you breathe a sigh of relief.
“It was a good challenge, a really good spell.
“But for me, I wouldn't like to see it end like that."
Smith has been withdrawn from Australia’s side for the final day at Lord’s - and is a major doubt for the Third Test.
He woke up today with a “bit of a headache and a feeling of grogginess” and has been replaced in the match by Marnus Labuschagne, who can bowl and bat as his substitute.
Smith is now unlikely to be available for the next Ashes clash at Headingley, which begins on Thursday.
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A Cricket Australia spokesman said: “Steve has been closely monitored by medical staff overnight and this morning reported that after sleeping well, he woke with ‘a bit of a headache and a feeling of grogginess’.
“Steve reported that his left arm which was also struck during his innings yesterday was ‘much better’
“As part of the Cricket Australia concussion protocol, repeat concussion testing of Steve Smith was also performed this morning and demonstrated some deterioration from his testing which is consistent with the emergence of the symptoms he was reporting.
“On that basis, Steve has been withdrawn from the match by team doctor Richard Saw and the Australia team have lodge an application for a concussion substitute with the ICC match referee in line with the ICC protocol."
