Steve Smith to miss third Test after sitting out Leeds training
Leeds: Steve Smith’s body language said it all, a disconsolate look on his face as Justin Langer wrapped his arm around his shoulder in support.
The batsman had not wanted to give up the thought of playing in the third Test, having missed so much international cricket in the past 18 months for very different reasons.
His bid to play at Headingley only five days after the vicious blow to the neck he copped from Jofra Archer – and only four days after he was diagnosed with delayed concussion – always seemed highly ambitious but when he told teammates on Monday his condition had improved, playing cards with them on the team bus to Yorkshire, there was a glimmer of hope.
Australia coach Justin Langer, left, and Steve Smith during a nets session at Headingley on Tuesday.CREDIT:AP
That was shut down on Tuesday when he failed to join fellow squad members in their pre-match training session at Headingley and was ruled out of the match.
"It was pretty simple really, when we followed the protocols, he was probably a couple of days off being fit to be selected," Langer said. "At the end of the day it was really a no-brainer, he felt a bit better [on Monday] but he is not going to have time enough to tick off everything he needs to do to be ready to play.
“He obviously, like all the players, wants to play, he loves batting but he understands as well that he’s not 100 per cent yet and with only a couple of days between Test matches that’s what makes it so difficult."
Two days after being withdrawn from the final day at Lord’s, Smith was back in an Australian team tracksuit and at the ground but instead of being put through his paces with the rest of the squad or even training lightly he was locked in conversation with Langer in the middle of the venue before speaking with team doctor Richard Saw and having a long discussion with former Test captain Mark Taylor, who is in England on media duties.
Smith had admitted he had needed to train on Tuesday and then face fast bowling in the nets on Wednesday – as well as pass concussion tests – to get the all clear – and the fact he could not even take that first step clearly pained him.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...out-first-leeds-training-20190820-p52j36.html
