The Ashes 2019: Steve Smith bats in nets following concussion scare

Ruled out of the third Ashes Test with concussion, Steve Smith has taken some big steps to a return to the Australian team.

Steve Smith bats in the nets at Headingley on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

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Steve Smith took the biggest step towards his Test return with a net session at Headingley on Saturday amid expectation he will play in Australia’s tour match against Derbyshire next week.

After being ruled of the third Test with concussion, the batting star hadn’t moved beyond walking laps with team doctor Richard Saw before getting back to business.

Smith completed a lengthy net session of throw downs, then also did some fielding drills before the start of play on day three.

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Steve Smith bats in the nets at Headingley on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

He will continue to be assessed by the Australian medical staff and still needs to “tick a few boxes” to ensure he returns for the fourth Test at Manchester which starts on September 4.

That would be 17 days after his initial diagnosis of delayed concussion during the second Test at Lord’s, which forced Australia to substitute him with Marnus Labuschagne.

Smith’s likely return has turned discussions towards who misses out, with Usman Khawaja and possibly opener Marcus Harris in the gun.

Smith with Australian team doctor Richard Saw at the net session at Headingley. Picture: Getty Images

Khawaja has averaged just 28 in his past 16 Test innings and has a career average of just 19 in England.

But former Australian captain Ricky Ponting cautioned against dropping the classy number three batsman, who has eight Test centuries.

“I’d be loath to leave him out, but then you’ve got Matthew Wade who has made a hundred in the first Test and Travis Head who averages nearly 50 in Test cricket,” Ponting told cricket.com.

Steve Smith in the nets at Headingley with team doctor Richard Saw. Picture: Getty Images

“Or you look back at the top and you might look at Marcus Harris again and open the batting with Khawaja and maybe bat Marnus at three and Smith at four.

“It’s going to be a tough selection.”

Harris has played just one Test after replacing Cameron Bancroft, and his 19 in the second innings at Headingley was a better return than anything from the former opener in his four Ashes efforts.

Originally published as The Ashes 2019: Steve Smith bats in nets following concussion scare