Captain Joe Root has all but implored England to capitalise on the absence of Australian batsman Steven Smith during this week’s third Ashes series Test at Headingley in Leeds.

Smith has been sidelined by a concussion, after being struck on the side of the neck by fast bowler Jofra Archer’s short delivery during last week’s second Test at Lord’s in London.

The prolific Smith struck successive centuries in the series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham and 92 at Lord’s.

‘It is a huge hole. You look at the runs he has scored and if you take them out, it looks completely different and we could be here 2-0 up,’ said Root.

England lost the first Test by 251 runs, while the second was drawn. The hosts held the ascendancy on day five at Lord’s, but were ultimately thwarted by batsman Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne’s defiance.

‘I don’t think anyone’s thought of losing this Test match. Everyone knows what we need to do, which is to go out and play in the same manner we did at Lord’s,’ added Root.

‘I said I wanted a response at the start of the last game and got it. I expect us to almost go up another level in this match.’

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