Marnus Labuschagne, who came in as Test cricket's first concussion substitute and impressed with the bat at Lord's, is all but sure to take Steve Smith's place in the playing XI.

Many fans offered him a standing ovation at Lord's for his brave efforts but an audible contingent booed at and jeered Smith both times, when he was withdrawn and when he returned.

With a turnaround time of three days between the two Tests, it was always going to be a tough one for Smith to be ready in time and recover from concussion.  

Australian batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes hit, following a concussion-injury during the fourth day of second Test.

Smith complained of headaches on Saturday and was ruled out of the remainder of the 2nd Test on Sunday after displaying concussion symptoms.

Australian PM further termed Smith "a champion" and said he is expecting the 30-year-old to answer his "hecklers" with bat and ball in hand to bring home the Ashes.

Archer lighted up Lord's on his Test debut with some hostile fast bowling. He took five wickets across two innings and peppered the Australian batsmen with short deliveries that clattered against their helmets and bodies.

Steve Smith was ruled out of the final day of the Ashes Test with a concussion, and Tim Paine said that it was too early to make a call on his participation in the Headingley Test.

Australian batsman Steve Smith talked about the incident during the Lord's test and provided an update over the current status of his fitness. 

Cricket Australia says Smith, who was hit on the side of the neck by a vicious delivery from England paceman Jofra Archer on Saturday, woke with a "bit of a headache and a feeling of grogginess."

Smith survived a deadly bouncer from Archer which forced him to retire hurt, but he came back and helped Australia not lose sight of England's first innings score of 258.

Steve Smith had to leave the field after he was hit by a bouncer from Jofra Archer during the second Ashes Test, and Australia's coach Justin Langer has now revealed what Smith said in the dressing room.

After receiving medical treatment, Smith was back on his feet but left the field for further assessment, to applause by spectators at the home of cricket.

Steve Smith took charge in the second Test match after Australia's batting collapse again, and the fans couldn't help but notice his unique technique while leaving the deliveries.

Former Australia skipper Steve Waugh went a step further and said that Steve Smith has the ability to read the opposition and their tactics and that helps him in trying situations.

Heaping praise on the Indian captain, Gatting said he deserved the tag of a great player following his consistency in all the three formats of the game.

The debate has once again sprung up after Smith slammed twin centuries to help Australia beat England in the 1st Test and on seeing the knocks, coach Langer has his say on the best batsman at the moment.

Steve Smith scored twin centuries and was awarded the Man-of-the-Match award as Australia beat England by 251 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Test series.

"Running out of things to say about him, probably the best Test match performance we've seen," said Paine in the post-match presentation ceremony. 

Returning to Test cricket after serving a year-long ban for the infamous ball-tampering scandal in South Africa, Smith struck 144 runs in the first innings to bail out Australia from a difficult position.