Ashes 2019: Steve Smith not worried about Jofra Archer’s bouncers

Australia may be still smarting from the heartbreaking defeat in the third Test against England at Leeds, Headingley in the ongoing Ashes 2019. Despite road rolling England for 67 runs in the first innings and setting them a target of 359 runs to chase with two days remaining, Australia fancied their chances of retaining the Ashes, until they ran into Ben Stokes, whose Ian Botham like performance handed the home side series leveling win.

The visitors may have done better if they had not missed their premier batsman in Steve Smith, who became the first player to be substituted in the second Test match after suffering from concussion after being hit on the head by England fast bowler Jofra Archer. His replacement Marnus Labuschagne has done extremely well, scoring three fifties in three innings, but Smith is expected to come back into the playing XI for the fourth Test.

Smith says ‘Archer is yet to get me out’

Everyone is looking forward to the battle between the best Test batsman at the moment and an exciting fast bowler at Old Trafford next week. Smith has passed every test put through by the Australian medical staff like brisk walking to jogging on a treadmill then high-speed running. He even batted at nets on Saturday against the likes of Michael Neser and Mitchell Marsh.

Smith, who has been a thorn to the England bowling side, remained unfazed by the prospect of facing off against Archer, who floored him at Lord’s. “I’m not really going to change anything. There’s been a bit of talk that he’s got the wood over me, but he hasn’t actually got me out. He hit me on the head on a wicket that was a bit up and down at Lord’s. He actually didn’t get me out so all the other bowlers have had more success against me, I dare say.”

“I’ve faced them a bit more, but they’ve all got me out a lot more. I’m pretty comfortable with that. Now it’s just about getting out there and playing the game,” Smith was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald.

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