"Right decision was made," says Steve Smith after being ruled out of remainder of Lord's Test

The decision to rule him out of the fifth and final day came after further examination on Sunday morning, with Smith having woken up feeling groggy and with a headache

smith180805

Steve Smith admitted it was “the right decision” to rule him out of the remainder of the Ashes Test at Lord’s, after the Australian batsman woke up feeling groggy and with a headache after being struck on Saturday by a Jofra Archer bouncer.

Smith retired hurt after taking the blow to the back of the neck, but re-emerged later in the day to resume his innings after the dismissal of Peter Siddle. However, he was dismissed shortly afterwards for 92.

The decision to rule him out of the fifth and final day came after further examination on Sunday morning, with Smith having woken up feeling groggy and with a headache.

“With the test that I have done and how I have woken up today, it is the right decision,” he said. “I would obviously love to be out there trying to keep performing and trying and help Australia win another Test match but the right decision has been made.

“I will obviously be monitored very closely over the next few days with a pretty quick turnaround in between Test matches and I am hopeful that I can make a recovery and be okay for that.”

“I am going to be assessed over the next five or six days each day probably a couple of times a day to see how I am feeling and progressing and I am hopeful that I will be available for that Test match.

“But it is up to the medical staff we will have conversations but it is certainly an area of concern, concussion, and I want to be 100 percent fit.”

There is no obligatory timeframe for a player’s return to action from a concussion in the ICC’s protocols, but a typical concussion would take seven days from which to recover.

Given that no player can return without being given approval by a medial professional, it seems unlikely that he would be given the all-clear to appear in the Headingley Test, which begins on Thrusday.

Smith praised the protocol in place, as well as Australia’s attitude towards head injuries – notably in the time since the tragic death of Phil Hughes in 2014 after he was struck by a bouncer during a domestic game in Australia.

smith180806

Steve Smith made 92, having scored 142 and 144 at Edgbaston

“Australia is the leader in that, bringing the concussion subs and rules around concussion in the domestic competitions back home,” he added. “We are very thorough in the way we deal with head injuries to ensure the safety and health of a player is of paramount importance.

“I think that is great and the doctor has had a pretty close eye on me since I came off the field yesterday. I have been assessed and asked a lot of questions over the last 20 hours or thereabouts. 

“Unfortunately, I have declined in the way I have felt over that time and that has led to me being ruled out.”

Noticeably, Smith – as a number of Australia’s players – does not wear the stem guard that provides additional protection to batsmen at the base of the back of their helmets.

“I along with a few of the other players in the team find it a little bit uncomfortable to what we are used to,” he explained.

“For me, I find it a bit claustrophobic when it is on. I feel like I am enclosed and not overly comfortable.

“It is certainly something I need to have a look at and perhaps try in the nets and see if I can find a way to get comfortable with it.”

To celebrate England winning the World Cup you can subscribe to The Cricketer for just £20.19. Click here to learn more

Comments

No comments received yet - Be the first!

LATEST NEWS

STAY UP TO DATE Sign up to our newsletter...
SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!

Units 7-8, 35-37 High St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE128PY

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.