Steve Smith ruled out of England ODI as Australian superstar is hit in head again in training and has concussion tests
STEVE SMITH was ruled out of the first one-day international after taking another blow to the head.
Run machine Smith, 31, was struck on Thursday by a ball pinged down by a member of Australia’s coaching staff in the nets at Old Trafford.
It is the second time in two summers that Smith has missed a match after being hit on the head.
Last year, he was taken to hospital and did not play in the famous Headingley Test – when Ben Stokes’ innings of 135 not out inspired England to an incredible win – after being felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s.
Aussie white ball captain Aaron Finch said at the toss: “Steve Smith misses out – he got a knock on the head yesterday in practice so that’s a precautionary measure. Marcus Stoinis will bat in his place at No.3.”
DOG THROWER GIZMO BLAMED
Smith was hit by a support staff member using the dog thrower gizmo favoured by coaches which allows them to generate extra pace. It is called a Sidearm.
Aussie team medics will take no chances with Smith and must decide whether he is fit to play in the second game of the three-match 50-over series on Sunday.
Head coach Justin Langer was a batsman hit on the helmet several times during his career and he knows the physical impact and potential damage to confidence that being ‘sconed’ can cause.
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Smith scored 774 runs in seven innings in the Ashes last summer – including 211 and 82 at Old Trafford – and is the No.1 ranked Test batsman in the world.
He was stripped of the Aussie captaincy and banned for 12 months for his part in the sandpaper ball-tampering scandal during the Cape Town Test in 2018.
Smith underwent a concussion test, which he passed, and will have another assessment on Saturday before it is decided whether he can play in the next game.