Australia batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test in Leeds after suffering a concussion during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. Cricket Australia confirmed that he would miss the upcoming Test after he sat out the team’s training session that took place on Tuesday.
Smith had earlier missed out day five of the second Ashes Test which ended in a draw at Lord’s.
Smith was batting on 80 during Australia’s first innings before he collapsed on his face after suffering a sickening blow to the side of the neck and head following a bouncer from England pacer Jofra Archer.
He retired hurt but later returned back to score 92 - the first time he scored below hundred runs in the ongoing series.
Marnus Labuschagne, is expected to replace Smith after impressing in the second Test at Lord’s.
The 30-year-old Smith – who has scored two centuries and the aforementioned 92 in his three innings in the first two Tests – was closing on Virat Kohli’s position as the top-ranked Test batsman in the world, despite missing a year due to the ball-tampering ban.
Smith’s absence will be a huge blow to Australia who hold a 1-0 lead in the five Test series and for whom victory at Headingley would ensure they retained the Ashes.
Their other batsmen have not looked convincing – experienced opener David Warner has totalled just 18 in his four innings – with Smith being the lynch-pin.
The third Ashes Test begins on Thursday and Australia are leading 1-0 at the moment. For England, they will continue to be without James Anderson, who bowled just four overs in the first match.