Steve Smith being floored by a Jofra Archer bouncer shows the inherent danger batsmen face

As Steve Smith slumped to the ground, the previously baying, hostile crowd was chilled to momentary silence. The troubling scene underlined the risks involved in facing genuine pace bowling, even for the world's best.

• Match report: Aussie bowlers surge back after nasty blow fells Smith

• Australian legends condemn Lord's crowd over Smith boos

For Australian cricket fans, it was close to the most sickening image imaginable.

Steve Smith – their Mr Indestructible – slumping forward onto his stomach after being rocked by a savage Jofra Archer bouncer that struck him on the neck, just below his left ear.

Steve Smith was struck on the neck in frightening scenes at Lord's.

A chilling silence washed over the ground as the 30,000 in attendance, who had been whipped into a frenzy during Archer’s stunning, hostile spell of fast bowling, took grasp of the severity of the situation.

This was Steve Smith, the best since Bradman and a man who has barely appeared mortal since his return to the game after a 12-month suspension.

And he had been felled in circumstances that drew immediate comparisons with the late Phillip Hughes, Smith’s former state and Test teammate.

Smith wasn’t involved in the tragic game where Hughes finished eternally 63 not out, but four of his current Test squad mates were – opener David Warner, offspinner Nathan Lyon, vice-captain Travis Head and back-up quick Mitchell Starc.

Medical staff attended Smith at the crease and then insisted he retire hurt.

Hearts were in mouths around the ground as Australian team doctor Richard Saw sprinted to the middle to attend to Smith.

And then a collective exhale followed by a ripple of applause around the ground as he stood to his feet.

Rightly or wrongly, Australian sports fans are conditioned to fear the worst in such situations now.

Memories of the Phillip Hughes tragedy were evoked for all cricket fans watching.

Mercifully, this time was different.

Whether courageous or senseless, Smith wanted to resume his innings. “I feel fine. I want to continue,” he begged Dr Saw.

But the doctor saw differently and managed to coax Smith from the field for further assessment, though the disappointment was written all over his face.

It said plenty that Smith, who all tour has barely been seen without a bat in his hands, left his willow, gloves and helmet next to the pitch on which he intended to continue batting.

Smith walked off for treatment, and even returned to complete his innings later on.

Smith was able to return to the crease some 40 minutes later to rousing applause – and scattered pockets of isolated boos - from an appreciative Lord’s crowd.

But Smith wasn’t himself.

He attempted a slog over mid-wicket, and unconvincingly sliced runs past gully .It was quite clear that this wasn’t the same player who posted twin centuries at Edgbaston little more than a week ago, nor the one who had stonewalled England prior to copping savage blows to his arm and neck.

Archer's contest with Smith had bee gripping even before Smith was felled, a genius batsman against raw pace.

But he was later cleared of a broken arm, in addition to passing his various concussion tests, which came as welcome news to an Australian camp desperate to have their star No.4 back doing what he does best: scoring runs in between extravagant leaves, twitchy pad touching and swatting away imaginary bees.