XtraTime Web Desk: Australian all rounder Mitch Marsh on Saturday said that his teammate Steve Smith loves challenges ahead of the 2nd ODI against England at Old Trafford. Smith passed the second concussion test after being hit on the head during practice before the first one dayer. He is all set to return to the Australian batting line up.
Smith was a late withdrawal from Friday’s series opener after copping a head knock in the nets on match eve and was replaced in the No.3 spot by Marcus Stoinis, who impressed with a promising innings 43 from 34 deliveries on a difficult new-ball wicket.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson said Smith was cleared after the first concussion assessment on Friday and the move to rest him was a precautionary measure, adding the star right-hander passed a second concussion test on Saturday.
He will continue to be monitored ahead of Sunday’s game.
Mitch Marsh said Smith would welcome a short-ball attack if England’s speedsters choose to target him with that approach on his return.
“Absolutely, I’m looking forward to seeing that happen,” said Marsh with a smile during the virtual press conference in Manchester.
He added, “Anyone who bowls 150kms an hour, he loves the challenge so there’ll be no backing down from Steve Smith, I know that 100 per cent for sure.”
Smith’s head knock came some 13 months on from being infamously felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s during last year’s Ashes. That knock caused him to miss the second innings of that Test as well as the third Test of the series before he returned with a match-winning double century in the fourth Test.