Former Australia skipper Steve Smith was forced to retire after being hit on head by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s. The star batsman fell face forward onto the ground and had to receive on-field treatment amid concerns he could be concussed.
However, Archer’s behavior has irked fans as he did not check up on Smith and was instead seen smiling and smirking moments later.
Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar also said that England’s Jofra Archer lacked “courtesy” after bowling a ferocious bouncer.
6 short balls in an over and a half. Where did you think this was going to end up Archer?
And you’re cracking up laughing.
Shit Bloke#Ashes19 #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/HOS16QUj7R
— Ed (@terkey76) August 17, 2019
“Bouncers are a part & parcel of the game but whenever a bowler hits a batsman on the head and he falls, courtesy requires that the bowler must go & check on him. It was not nice of Archer to just walk away while Smith was in pain. I was always the first one to run to the batsman,” Akhtar tweeted.
I know it’s Test cricket and it’s brutal but that was one of the nastier hits you’ll see. Absolutely flush to the head. Archer laughing doesn’t sit comfortably with me. Am I alone?
— Neroli Meadows (@Neroli_M_FOX) August 17, 2019
Don’t mind seeing the hostility from Archer, very reminiscent of Johnson 13-14 Ashes. But reckon when you hit someone: 1. You go and check on them and 2. You have enough class not to laugh. #Ashes19 #Ashes
— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) August 17, 2019
For all Archer’s bravado & short shit ( plus the horrendous coverage of it all ) he didn’t get Smith out – he hit him with a bumper. Well done champ. You turn your back & walk back to your bowling mark giggling like a school kid & look at the scoreboard – you didn't get him out
— Liam Pickering (@lennyp23) August 17, 2019
after Archer hit Steve Smith in the head & was flat on the pitch, possibly badly hurt stunned Australians thought of Phil Hughes. this lot had a giggle #Ashes19 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/xR9AtTLIYA
— Nathaniel Bane (@natbane) August 17, 2019
– #Archer not checking on Smith and laughing while the champ is down,is an ultimate shame to sportsmanship.#Ashes19
— MUHAMMAD HAMZA INAM (@Hamzainam) August 17, 2019