Day four of the second Ashes Test: Smith and Archer go head to head

Steve Smith’s titanic tussle with Jofra Archer, and the 92mph bouncer that ended their battle in gruesome fashion, dominated the fourth day of a second Ashes Test that is destined for a tense conclusion.

England lost their top order cheaply in the evening session and will begin day five 104 runs ahead on 96 for four, but events at Lord’s will be remembered for an unforgettable, adrenaline-fuelled duel in the afternoon.

Smith was on 80 and progressing towards his third successive century when debutant Archer clattered him in the neck at express pace, brutally flooring the Australian.

The England quick had already struck another nasty blow on Smith’s left forearm during a compelling spell that saw him clock one lightning fast delivery at 96.1mph, showcasing the sport at its most visceral, vital and ultimately violent.

Smith was led from the field but returned just 40 minutes later after passing concussion tests, dismissed softly by Chris Woakes for 92 and looking understandably shaken.

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There were worrying scenes when Smith limply tumbled to the turf after being clattered just below the left ear by a vicious ball from Archer. The delivery was clocked at 92.4mph. Remarkably, just 54 balls after reluctantly retiring hurt, the former Australia captain re-emerged. He came back out to a mixture of cheers and jeers, with some spectators still seemingly not ready to let Smith forget his role in the 2018 ball-tampering scandal or, perhaps, concerned about England’s struggles to dismiss him in this series. Smith then admirably hit successive fours but, ultimately, fell eight runs short of a third successive century after bizarrely misjudging a ball from Woakes.

Archer hunts Smith

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Captain easily uprooted

After Jason Roy’s struggles as a Test opener continued, there was an unwanted first for Joe Root. The England captain’s thick edge off Pat Cummins flew into the hands of Australia captain Tim Paine and resulted in his first golden duck at this level in his 83rd Test match. It gave Cummins, who had just caught and bowled Roy, successive wickets and left Root’s side in a sizeable hole in the second innings, faltering on nine for two. Roy, meanwhile, has now managed just 45 runs from five innings as an England Test opener, averaging nine.

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What’s next?

August 18: England v Australia, day five of the second Ashes Test, Lord’s.