Australian batsman Steven Smith retired hurt, but later returned, after being felled by England fast bowler Jofra Archer on day four of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s in London on Saturday.
Archer’s sharp pace and steep bounce hit Smith on the forearm – and the neck and back of the head. He was eventually dismissed by seamer Chris Woakes for 92.
This is Smith’s first Test series since last year’s tour of South Africa, when involvement in ball-tampering brought a 12-month suspension.
‘There were times throughout the last 15 months where I didn’t know if I was ever going to play cricket again. I lost a bit of love for it at one point, particularly when I had my elbow operation,’ said Smith this month.
‘It was really bizarre that it was the day I got the brace off my elbow, I found a love for it again. I don’t know what it was, it was like a trigger that just said, “Right, I’m ready to go again, I want to play and I want to go out and play for Australia and make people proud and just do what I love doing.”
‘I’ve never had those feelings ever before, I didn’t have a great love for the game, it was there for a little while and fortunately that love has come back.’
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