The Ashes: Smith reveals his first thought after being struck by Archer was tragic death of team-mate Phil Hughes

STEVE SMITH revealed his first thought after being struck by Jofra Archer was the death of team-mate Phil Hughes.

Master batsman Smith took a blow to the neck from Archer during the Second Test at Lord’s.

He retired hurt and, although he came out to bat again 45 minutes later, he was diagnosed with delayed concussion.

Smith returns for the Aussies in their warm-up match against Derbyshire today. He admitted: “I had a few things running through my head, particularly where I got hit.

“A bit of the past came up from a few years ago.

“Then I was like, ‘I’m OK here’. I was sad but I was all right mentally.”

Smith was not playing in Sydney in 2014 when Hughes also took a blow to the neck but was deeply affected by it.

He added: “At Lord’s, it wasn’t until later that it sunk in. When the doc asked me what it felt like, I said it was like I had six beers and felt under the weather, without the six beers.”

He may now attach a neck protector to his helmet for the Fourth Test.

Smith explained: “I tried them the other day.

“I reckon my heart rate went up about 30 or 40 beats a minute.

“I just feel claustrophobic. But they’ll probably become mandatory so I’ll have to get used to them.”