Australia batsman Steve Smith was forced to retire hurt after being hit by England speedster Jofra Archer, then returned to bat on an extraordinary fourth day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Saturday.
Smith was struck on the neck just below the left ear by a 92.4 mph bouncer and paused his innings on 80.
He passed medical assessments and resumed 40 minutes later but was unsettled, playing an expansive heave at the second ball he faced.
The former Australian captain then committed an uncharacteristic error of judgement to play no stroke at a straight ball from Chris Woakes and was given out lbw on 92.
Australia was finally bundled out for 250 – a first-innings deficit of eight – shortly before a delayed Tea break.
Meanwhile, the Twitter world was blown away by Smith’s bravery.
Here are some of the tweets in praise of Smith:
Steve Smith is extra special . Another outstanding innings. #Ashes19
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 17, 2019
I get the pantomime of @stevesmith49 arrival to the crease and the booing but please stop booing once he plays with great skill,courage and incredible discipline !!! he deserves a standing ovation for that innings … #Ashes #Lords
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 17, 2019
Brave and courageous batting. #ashes
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) August 17, 2019
Blimey, @stevesmith49 is back out. Incredible.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) August 17, 2019
Sorry you cannot boo Smith after being hit and coming back on!! Are they F🤬 kidding #Ashes
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) August 17, 2019
Gutsiest batting I’ve seen in a long time. Take a bow @stevesmith49 #Ashes #Lords pic.twitter.com/xlw8SV0fhA
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) August 17, 2019
This is serious test cricket !! Archer vs Smith.
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket) August 17, 2019
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26) August 17, 2019
A battered, bruised and brave Steve Smith falls eight runs short of the first player to post three straight #Ashes tons in 72 years.
One leave too many, but one more miraculous knock.
A week out from Ess v Coll, as Bucks would say, shame on anyone who booed a champion. pic.twitter.com/Q5cgLpytpt
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger) August 17, 2019
If the amount of respect could be calculated, Steve Smith has probably gained more than what he had lost. What a player! #Ashes19
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) August 17, 2019
A standing ovation for Steve Smith, good gesture from the Lord's crowd. He deserved every bit of that.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) August 17, 2019
Steve Smith is probably in the form of his life. Got hit by Archer’s ferocious bouncer… he came back again. Exhibiting warrior-like qualities. And he’s booed by the Lord’s crowd. People who’re privileged to watch the game at the Home of Cricket could behave better!#EngvAus
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) August 17, 2019
