As England announced their resounding comeback in the ongoing Ashes 2019 at Headingley, Australian star batsman Steve Smith has warned the hosts not to be too overjoyed on leveling the Test series, as their series-turning man Jofra Archer is yet to get his wicket in the ongoing five-match Test series.
A horrible bouncer from Archer forced in-form Smith to miss the third Ashes Test, which England won on the back of Ben Stokes' Headingley heroics to level the prestigious Test series.
However, Archer has been instrumental in England’s success so far, but the paceman has not "got the wood" over Smith, who insisted that he won’t be intimidated by the fiery pacer when he renews Ashes hostilities with England’s pace gun in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on 4th September.
Smith told reporters about Archer on Wednesday, 28th August, “There's been a bit of talk that he's got the wood over me, but he hasn't actually got me out. He hit me on the head on a wicket that was a bit up and down at Lord's. All the other bowlers have had more success against me, I daresay. I've faced them a bit more, but they've all got me out a lot more.”
Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne was also hit by Archer's deliveries on his head in Leeds, but Smith doesn’t feel these bouncers could help in getting wickets.
Smith further added on the same, “If they’re bowling up there, it means they can't nick me off, or hit me on the pad, or hit the stumps. With the Dukes ball... I don't know, that's an interesting ploy.”
The 30-year-old was also happy the way the head knocks handled in Ashes, adding: “I felt pretty good, passed all my tests and was able to go and bat. Then it wasn't until later that evening that it hit me.
Smith signed off by saying, “As we've seen this series, there have been so many head knocks already. Marnus [has been hit a few times, Jos [Buttler] got hit at one point, Stokesy's been hit. If you're ruling people out from just hits every now and again, we won't have a game.”
(With The Guardian Inputs)
