Smith concussion tests protocol
The sight of Steve Smith being hit in the neck while batting in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s revived for Australians some of the trauma and tragedy of the death of Phillip Hughes in 2014. Smith was felled by a blistering bouncer from English debutant Jofra Archer. That Smith returned to the crease on day four is testament to his courage, ultra-competitiveness and love of team; boos from some in the crowd were simply beyond the pale. Smith had been examined by the team doctor, passing three concussion tests, and assured coach Justin Langer he could play. “He was going: ‘Mate, I just want to get out there. I can’t get up on the honours board unless I am batting’,” Langer said. At the heart of this exchange, as Peter Lalor wrote, is the “insanity of sport, an area where sometimes personal safety matters less than life or death”. Luckily, measures in place do not allow players to make the call; it’s up to a doctor.
After further tests the next morning, Smith, well-rested but feeling groggy, was ruled out by team officials. Under new concussion protocols, the match referee approved Marnus Labuschagne as a replacement. This is a welcome development at Test level and will ease the pressure on players and coaching staff to make a call that could affect a team’s chances of winning. Perhaps an independent doctor should examine injured players. In any case, authorities report one-third of all concussions in Australian cricket are delayed; maybe a stricter immediate test is required. But again, not every head knock leads to a concussion. Smith was not wearing a StemGuard, a protective attachment clipped on to the bottom of helmets. They are not compulsory, but after this incident it is possible they will become so, even though players, including Smith, say they are not comfortable wearing the neck protection. Some are suggesting mandatory rest periods after a head knock, as in other sports, to protect players. Cricket Australia says it has protocols and processes to make sure Smith cannot begin his return until he passes a SCAT5 examination. We wish him a full recovery and for a series played fiercely to a glorious conclusion.