Concussion expert slams cricket’s decision to allow Smith to play on

A concussion researcher says it is “incomprehensible” that Australian cricketer Steve Smith was allowed to play on.

Steve Smith is struck by a 148km/h bouncer from Jofra Archer during the Ashes Test on Saturday. Picture: Getty Images

A leading Australian concussion researcher says it is “incomprehensible” that Test cricketer Steve Smith was allowed to finish his innings after being felled by a 148km/h bouncer, only to be ruled out of the rest of the match with concussion.

Adrian Cohen, the founder of the HeadSafe concussion program, has called for mandatory rest periods to be introduced into cricket to protect players who have received a head injury.

Smith collapsed after the ball smacked into the back of his neck while batting in the second Ashes Test against England at Lord’s in London.

He was not wearing a stem-guard — a small piece of padding at the rear of the helmet that protects a large area of the neck — and Cricket Australia has not yet issued an edict to players that they must wear them.

Smith left the pitch but returned to complete his innings about 40 minutes later after passing concussion tests conducted in the dressing room.

But the team’s leading run­scorer in the series was ruled out of the rest of the match after failing a subsequent test before the final day of play and is in doubt for the next match, beginning on Thursday in Leeds.

Smith became the first player substituted out of a Test match under the International Cricket Council’s new concussion policy.

Dr Cohen said the team should have acted on the obvious signs that Smith was likely to develop concussion, despite being cleared by the earlier test.

“Symptoms can take up to 72 hours to develop,” Dr Cohen said. “But the signs of concussion were that he was knocked down and out.

“These tests are fundamentally flawed. Allowing such events to slip through while everyone swearing they ‘did them by the book’. So, it’s time to throw the book out. These tests just aren’t sufficient.”

Cricket Australia chief medical officer Alex Kountouris yesterday defended Australia’s team doctor, Richard Saw, for his handling of Smith’s injury.

“He didn’t have a concussion at the time so he was allowed to play. If we took him out of the game, we would have been leaving him out of the game for no reason other than what we saw on the field,” Dr Kountouris said in Melbourne.

Under Cricket Australia’s concussion policy, players are ­required to stand down from ­activity for at least 24 hours and can return only after they are given assurance by a team ­doctor.

Former Test wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist told the ABC last night that it was “inevitable” that stem guards or enhanced helmets will become the standard in elite cricket.

“I understand players … saying it feels a little bit awkward, uncomfortable or not what they’re used to, but there was a time when the grill, the faceguard, wasn’t a regular part of the helmet make-up,” he said.

“That is a staple diet now. I think cricketers will choose to use it, not just be forced to.”