Jofra Archer Breaks Silence After Bowling Vicious Bouncer To Steve Smith

Jofra Archer has reflected on the moment he struck Steve Smith on the neck with a deadly bouncer

Australia star batsman Steve Smith was forced to retire after lunch on Day 4 of the rain-affected second Ashes Test at Lord's on Saturday. The incident happened during the 77^th over when a vicious bouncer from England's Jofra Archer hit him on his neck. After passing concussion tests, there was simply no stopping Steve Smith from returning to the crease. Smith missed out on a century but he played another wonderful Ashes innings at Lord's. What raised more eyebrows was Jofra Archer witnessed laughing with Jos Buttler as Smith received attention and sent fans on social media into meltdown. Jofra Archer has reflected on the moment he struck Steve Smith on the neck with a deadly bouncer. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of day five, Archer said: “I don’t know what I was thinking at the time. “You don’t ever want to see (someone get hurt) or missing a day or another game, especially after what happened a few years ago. It’s never a nice sight.” Archer was referring to Phillip Hughes as he drew similarities between the blow that Smith received and the one that the late Phillip Hughes got in the SCG during a Sheffield Shield match in Australia which eventually led to his death in 2014. Aussie coach Justin Langer too admitted after the game that the blow to Smith reminded him of the tragic death. “There’s obviously some rough memories of a blow like that, there’s no fun in it,” Langer said. The battle between Archer, future master of vicious bowling and Smith, one of the finest batsman in the longest format of the game, in the second session on Saturday was one for the ages. “It was a bit exciting,” Archer said of the battle. “I was saying to the guys yesterday I don’t think I have ever seen him get out of his own accord! “I just tried to get him rattled. I just wanted to get him out.”