London: A rocket Jofra Archer bouncer clattered Steve Smith down flat on his face, cutting short a masterclass knock as the ace batsman was forced to retire after lunch and now the news from the Australian dressing room is that Smith has been taken for a precautionary x-ray.
"Update from the Aussie camp: Steve Smith is off the field because of his sore left forearm and has been taken for a precautionary X-Ray of that arm after being struck there during his innings. #Ashes," Cricket.com.au tweeted.
Smith was batting on 80 from 152 balls when in the 77th over delivery by Archer hit him on the unprotected part of the neck. The medics ran into the middle from both sides, as the England players rushed to the former Aussie skipper immediately.
As Smith lay on his back before slowly getting back on his feet, he looked dazed. The medics forced him to leave the field with Australia at 203/6, still, some way behind England's first innings score of 258.
After some time, Smith returned on the field to bat but Chris Woakes ended his 92-run inning as he was given LBW.
Australia was all out after scoring 250 runs, eight runs less than England's first-inning total.
