Australia's star batsman Steve Smith ruled out of the third Ashes Test

In what comes as a massive blow to the Australian team ahead of their upcoming clash against England, star batsman Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test, which is scheduled to begin on 22 August in Headingley.

Smith suffered a concussion after being hit by a nasty bouncer from Jofra Archer in first innings of the second Test at Lord's. While the right-handed batsman did manage to pass the initial concussion test and return to the field to bat for a brief period, his condition reportedly worsened on the following day to stop him from taking any further part in the game. Under the new concussion rules, Smith was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne.

Smith accompanied his team into the nets for a practice session on Tuesday. However, with the former captain not receiving a medical clearance yet, the team management is no mood to take a chance with their marquee player. The 30-year-old has scored 142, 144 and 92 in the first two games and stands as the highest run-scorer of the series so far. His exceptional form in the ongoing Ashes has also helped the New South Welshman to rise to the second spot in the ICC rankings for Test batsmen.

While there's no official confirmation on who will be replacing Smith in the third Test, Labuschagne is likely to be the best-suited fit. The youngster, who became the game's first concussion substitute, struck a matured 59 in the second innings to help Australia save a tense game on Sunday.