Steve Smith has detailed how he felt like he’d had “a dozen beers” after being floored by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s on the last Ashes tour.
Smith has made his return to the famous English ground this week, training on Saturday for the first time since the first Test.
Australia’s players did not enter the centre wicket, but Wednesday’s second Test at Lord’s will mark Smith’s first match back there since the 2019 Ashes.
In one of cricket’s more frightening scenes of recent years, Smith was hit by an Archer short ball in the back of the head while on 80 and lay on the ground for some time before retiring hurt.
The batting maestro briefly returned to the field at the fall of the next wicket before being out lbw for 88. He was subsequently ruled out of the match with concussion.
“It was a very difficult period to get through,” Smith told the Legend of the Ashes podcast.
“I caught one on the arm, got away with a few pull shots that are top edge and a couple in the gaps.
“And then I copped one in the back of the head, which hurt a fair bit.
“At that stage, I didn’t realise I was getting concussed. I went off and did all the tests, passed all the tests.
“It wasn’t until I came back out. Half-an-hour after, when the adrenalin sort of went out of my system and I started to feel quite groggy, probably like I’d had a dozen beers to be honest.”
Smith also revealed he had difficulty picking up the ball that day in the rain-affected drawn Test.
“It was quite a dark, gloomy day. The clouds were rolling in and out,” Smith said.
“Lord’s itself can be a little difficult when they are bowling from the members’ end with the members sitting there and the sightscreen not as big as at other grounds.
“There were a few distractions there, and it was just a day (when) I wasn’t quite seeing the ball as well as I would have liked from that end.”
The fact Archer is missing this series through a recurring elbow injury is one of the great disappointments of the English summer, such was the ferocity of the pair’s battle in 2019.
Smith ‘s exit from that Lord’s match prompted the rebirth of Marnus Labuschagne as a Test batsman, brought back into the Australian side and averaging 59.34 since.
As a result of the concussion, Smith did not play in Australia’s Headingley demise in the next Test but returned for the final two matches and finished the series with 774 runs at 110.57.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
What signs were they? Mine married another Crab
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
What's worse is when people say "next Friday". Semantically it's in four days time but so many people reckon it's in 11 days time.
Nick
Roar Rookie
No, "the" is also correct. There wasn't any other test match elsewhere being played around the world at the time, so Steve Smith did in fact score a double century in the next test.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
How someone responds emotionally doesn't detract from their deeds.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
"Permanent tear tracks in his face" At least he's in the groove.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Yes, I can relate to that about both of my ex-wives.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
He cries after every century. Permanent tear tracks in his face.
Wikipetia
Roar Rookie
his not the
mrl
Roar Rookie
Drink more beer...get rid of those prostates, they cause more trouble than my ex-wife.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
It is my understanding that alcohol is alcohol. Science does not budge although Smudge gives it a nudge.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
What about pre-mix?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Beer kills prostates. See if it comes up on conversations
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I start crying when I realise I don't have another four left in the fridge. :crying:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Did you not see it?
Shire
Roar Rookie
He scored a double century in the next Test.
mrl
Roar Rookie
He would start crying after four or five beers.
mrl
Roar Rookie
He would start crying after four or five.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
I'd never pictured Smudge as one who would consume a dozen beers in one sitting. My esteem for him has just grown :thumbup:
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
When he came out to bat again he batted with the powers of a man possessed of an otherworldliness. It was one of the most astonishing sporting acts I've ever seen
Pop
Roar Rookie
Steve Smith has never been the same since the concussion incident. It’s not so much a physical issue but confidence and psychological. The following summer against Neil Wagner of NZ he was pounded with bouncers and a leg theory approach which he struggled with. It’s like he is hypervigilant to an imminent bouncer. One cannot underestimate the trauma he experienced.