Leeds: Australian team are sweating in nets for the third Test match of the Ashes. Steve Smith, who was ruled out of Lord's Test after getting hit by a bouncer, was also present at Australia's practice session on Wednesday. Marnus Labuschagne, Smith's likely replacement, batted in the Headingley nets.
Smith, Australia's leading run-scorer of the Ashes series, will miss the third Test in Leeds after suffering a concussion.
Aussie skipper Tim Paine has expressed that replacing Smith will be a herculean task for Marnus. "There are not too many guys or there is one other that have averaged higher than Steve (Smith) in Test cricket. Clearly, they're huge shoes to fill. We're not going to put all that pressure on Marnus (Labuschagne). Marnus comes in to play a role in our team and it's up to everyone else particularly our senior players to just make sure we give that bit more output and cover Steve (Smith) as best we can," he said.
The batsman was hit by a bouncer from Jofra Archer during day four at Lord's.
Labuschagne, who replaced Smith in the second Test, is expected to start at Headingley.
Australia lead the five-match series 1-0 after winning at Edgbaston and drawing the second Test at Lord's.
