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England have built their lead to 165 runs on the last day of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's with Steve Smith ruled out of the rest of the match due to concussion.
England have increased their lead to 165 runs on the final day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's where Australia have been forced to rule Steve Smith out of the remainder of the match due to concussion.
The hosts were 4-157 at lunch on a day that was again delayed by rain, with Ben Stokes (51) and Jos Buttler (31) at the crease as the hosts looked to bat Australia out of the game and dismiss them later in the day.
But play at Lord's was overshadowed by news Smith would take no further part in the match after being diagnosed with delayed concussion by Australian team doctor Richard Saw.
Smith was hit on the neck on Saturday by a delivery from Jofra Archer that forced him off the field.
He did return to bat after passing three separate concussion tests but did not field in the final session due to a badly bruised arm from another Archer ball that required an X-ray.
"Steve has been closely monitored by medical staff overnight and this morning reported that after sleeping well, he woke with 'a bit of a headache and a feeling of grogginess'," read a Cricket Australia statement.
"Steve reported that his left arm which was also struck during his innings yesterday was 'much better'.
"As part of the Cricket Australia concussion protocol, repeat concussion testing of Steve Smith was also performed this morning and demonstrated some deterioration from his testing which is consistent with the emergence of the symptoms he was reporting."
Marnus Labuschagne has replaced Smith as a concussion substitute, as per a recent rule change introduced by the International Cricket Council.
The Queenslander is the first player in international cricket history to be used as a concussion replacement.
The third Test starts on Thursday in Leeds, leaving Smith little time to prove he has recovered in what might be a seismic blow to Australia's hopes of winning a series in the UK for first time since 2001.
Australia bowled well without luck with Nathan Lyon in particular causing both batsmen problems with some high-class offspin.
Peter Siddle, despite beating the bat of Buttler and Stokes on more than one occasion, has been unable to add to his two wickets from Saturday evening.
