Ashes 2019: Smith Receives All-clear In Concussion Test After Surviving Archer's Lethal Bouncer

Smith was struck on his neck by a ferocious delivery from pacer Jofra Archer on Day 4 of the second Ashes Test at Lord's

In what comes as a huge sigh of relief for Australia, in-form batsman Steve Smith was given the all-clear after he passed the concussion test after being forced to retire hurt on the fourth day of the ongoing second Ashes Test against England at Lord's on Sunday. Smith was struck on his neck by a ferocious delivery from pacer Jofra Archer, who bowled at menacing pace throughout his spell. Smith was playing on 80 when he went down after being hit on his neck and had to leave the ground after being checked upon by the medical staff. Smith, who registered two successive centuries in the first Test to help Australia pull of an emphatic victory, continued his fine form in the second game. He played a resilient innings against the tormenting English pace attack to play another defiant knock of 92 runs off 161 deliveries to help the visitors post 250 runs on the board in reply to England's first innings total of 258 runs. Cricket Australia confirmed that Smith has successfully passed his tests and will be monitored on an ongoing basis. “Steve was hit on the neck below the left ear,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “He was assessed lying on the pitch at the instructions of team doctor Richard Shaw. Dr Shaw made the precautionary decision to remove Steve from the field of play to have him further assessed under Cricket Australia’s head impact protocol. Steve then passed his assessments and will now be monitored on an ongoing basis, as is routine," the statement added.