Ashes 2019 | Everyone's heart skipped a beat after Steve Smith fell, insists Jofra Archer

On the fourth day of the 2nd Ashes Test, cricket witnessed debutant Archer repeatedly bowling short balls at Smith. One of those bouncers, bowled at a speed of 92.4 mph (148.7 kph), hit Smith on his unprotected neck following which he fell to the ground immediately and was declared retired hurt after receiving on-field treatment.

However, to everyone's surprise, Smith returned within an hour of the fall but was dismissed by Chris Woakes for 92. Following these events, Archer was criticised on social media for displaying no signs of concern on the field for Smith’s well-being, however, the bowler insisted that it wasn't the case. “That is never the plan (to hit a batsman),” insisted Archer.

“You are trying to get a wicket first. To see him go down, everyone stopped and everyone’s heart skipped a beat,” he added.

“After he got up he was moving around and you breathe a sigh of relief. No-one wants to see anyone getting carried off on a stretcher. It was a good challenge, a really good spell. For me, I wouldn’t like to see it end like that.”

Archer insisted he was just trying to force Smith out of his comfort zone. “I’ve never seen Smith get out of his own accord until yesterday, so I was just trying to rattle him,” he told Sky Sports.

“I was trying to get him out, I had a short leg and a leg slip and he was trying to work the ball off his hip, so if one bounces a bit more it should go to short leg, or one of the guys waiting.”

“You don’t ever want to see anyone carried off on a stretcher, or you don’t want to see them missing a day, or a game, especially with what happened a few years ago as well. It’s never a nice sight,” added Archer.