WATCH: Steve Smith floored after vicious Archer bouncer
In what was a fascinating and enthralling afternoon session at Lord’s, the world witnessed a scary moment when Aussie superstar Steve Smith was struck square on the neck from a 92.4mph Jofra Archer bouncer.
The contest between the two had been raging since lunch, with Archer earlier striking Smith on the forearm with a short ball that quickly swelled up to golf ball-sized proportions.
Smith was bandaged up and soldiered on, but amid a spell of hostile and mightily quick bowling (96.1mph at his fastest), Archer struck the immovable Aussie batsman once more.
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Smith is sent tumbling to the turf as he's caught on the chin by a short Archer delivery and retires on 80.
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Both teams’ physios quickly provided aid to the stricken Smith who regained his feet and spoke with the doctors in the ensuing minutes.
A visibly shaken Smith was then forced to undergo the concussion protocol – retiring hurt in the process while on 80.
The incident brought to a premature end a magnificent spell of Ashes cricket as the contest between batsman and bowler ramped up to epic proportions, but following the dismissal of Peter Siddle half an hour later, Smith returned to the crease to resume his battle with the English seamers.
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