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 ꦑon 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, playinꦯg an expansiveꦆ heave at the second ball he faced.
The former Austra👍lian 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 . Anoꦯther outstanding in🃏nings.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif)
I get the pantomime of 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 …
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Brave and courageous batting.
— Isa Guha (@isaguha)
Blimey, is back out. Incredible.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker)
Sor🌠ry you cannot boo Smith after being hit and🦄 coming back on!! Are they F🤬 kidding
— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93)
Gutsiest 🌄batting I’ve seen in a long time. Take a bow
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan)
This is serious test cricket !! Archer vs Smith.
— Nasser Hussain (@nassercricket)
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Carlos Brathwaite (@CRBrathwaite26)
A battered, bruised and brave Steve Smith falls eight runs short of the first player to post three straight tons in 72 yea✅rs.
One leave 🍨too many, but one more miraculous knock.
A week out from Ess v Cඣoll, as Bucks would say, shame on anyone who booed a champion.
— Sam Landsberger (@SamLandsberger)
If the amount of respect could be calculated, Steve Smith has probably gained more than what he had lost🍸. What a player!
— Sagar (@sagarcasm)
A standing ovation for Steve Smith, good gesture from the Lord's crowd. He deserved every bit of that.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
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!
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
