Ashes 2019: Mitchell Marsh to Possibly Replace Steve Smith After Retirement

Jofra Archer has been in the news once again for his deadly bouncer. As it turns out, it injured Australian player Steve Smith on the fourth day of the second Ashes at Lord’s. Lord’s went silent as Archer’s bouncer hit Steve Smith on the neck. Smith walked off the field after getting hit. Having been hit on the uncovered area of his neck, Smith immediately fell on the crease.

Soon the England players rush to him and medical attention was also rushed to the ground in no time. Archer’s delivery was 154.66 kmph and Smith missed the ball which hit him on the neck. Steve Smith retired hurt on 80 and was escorted off the ground soon.

He came to bat at No. 6 in the 23rd over and was about to score his third consecutive Test century. Although Australia lost their key batsmen, Smith was standing tall at the other end like the first Test at Edgbaston. Smith hit 11 fours before walking off for 80* (152).

However, after Siddle’s dismissal for 9 in the 85th over, Smith once again came to the field. He hit two boundaries off Chris Woakes over midwicket and extra cover respectively. It didn’t seem like he had got injured a couple of time ago. He once again took on Chris Woakes in 88th over.

He smashed two boundaries, but Woakes had the last laugh. He trapped Smith before the stumps where Smith was expecting the ball would get a swing and misjudged it. He fell for 92 off 161, including 14 fours.

However, Australia didn’t last for a long time. While Jack Leach dismissed Lyon for 6, Stuart Broad picked up Pat Cummins for 20 and restricted Australia within 250 on the board.

On the other hand, if Steve Smith is found to have a concussion, Australia will get the chance to bring a substitute player into their squad and a request must be put within 36 hours of the incident. Moreover, they need to give a name for the replacement which will be approved by the ICC match referee. However, after the replacement takes place, the replaced player might not take part in the game.

However, before the incident, Steve Smith suffered an injury in the left arm. He was given a compression bandage on the ground to reduce the swelling and a painkiller to bear the pain. Smith was the man behind their first Ashes Test win where he smashed twin centuries.

Marnus Labuschagne has taken the place for Steve Smith on the ground. If Australia want to replace Smith in the game, Mitchell Marsh could be the player. Although it might not look like a like-for-like replacement, Marsh has also the ability to support the team well with his all-round performance. With 35 wickets and more than 1200 runs, including three fifties and two centuries, Marsh could probably fill the gap in the middle.