SportAshes 2019: I can't get him out if he's not there – Archer responds to Smith

© Getty Images Jofra Archer celebrates at Headingley

England paceman Jofra Archer hit back at Australia batsman Steve Smith as the pair traded jibes ahead of the fourth Ashes Test.

Smith is set to return from a concussion at Old Trafford when the fourth Test begins on Wednesday, in a huge boost for the tourists with the series locked at 1-1.

The star batsman was ruled out of the third Test, which England incredibly won by one wicket, after being hit by an Archer bouncer at Lord's.

Smith reminded fans Archer was yet to get him out during the Ashes and the England paceman offered a response.

© Reuters Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

"Well, I can't get him out if he wasn't there," he told UK newspapers, via The Guardian.

No fracture for Smith after Archer battle

No fracture for Smith after Archer battle

Smith said he had tried them out and his heart-rate had gone up about “30 or 40” beats per minute. “ I just feel claustrophobic. I compare it to being stuck in an MRI scan machine so it was different,” he said. “At some point they’re probably going to become mandatory so I am going to have to get used to them.”

He also dismissed the hype surrounding a personal battle between him and Archer by saying that the Barbados-born pacer could not get him out thus the other English bowlers enjoyed more success against him. “ I ’m not really going to change anything. There ’s been a bit of talk that he ’ s got the wood

"But there'll be more than ample time to get him out. I'm not saying I won't get him out but if we don't get him out there's 10 other people we can get out and if he's stranded on 40 that's not helping his team too much.

"He can't do it all himself. We want to win the game. I'm not here to get caught up in a contest with one man. I want to win the Ashes."

"There’s been a bit of talk that’s he’s got the wood over me, but he hasn’t actually got me out." - Steve Smith on Jofra Archer #Ashes pic.twitter.com/3iF1vvVh0o

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) August 28, 2019

Led by Ben Stokes (135 not out), England incredibly chased down a target of 359 to draw level in the series at Headingley.

Archer believes that win is set to give the hosts a psychological advantage for the remainder of the series.

Mandatory neck guards 'not far away' after Smith felled by Archer

Compulsory neck guards on helmets for Australian cricketers are "not far away", the national team's sports medicine chief said Monday after a sickening blow felled Steve Smith during the second Ashes Test. 

However, Steve Smith said Jofra Archer has never got him out . Steve Smith of Australia is struck by a delivery from Jofra Archer of England during day four of the 2nd Specsavers Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord’ s Cricket Ground on August 17, 2019 .

The delayed onset of concussion symptoms led to Smith having to sit out an absorbing final day – his replacement Marnus Labuschagne also copping some Archer Someone going straight down like that was a pretty scary couple of minutes for everyone out there . It was great seeing him get back up."

"That's the thing, never get complacent. To be fair, 359 runs is a lot of runs. The crowd started to get on their backs as well, I think they panicked a bit," he said.

© Getty (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)

"They probably thought they were going to roll us if they got a few quick early wickets but they didn't and I'm glad we showed some resistance because the series isn't over and in the upcoming games I don't think they'll declare now.

"If they do have a chance I don't think they'll be too attacking. If they draw the series they still get to retain the Ashes."

Explore the issues faced by the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people this summer and discover what you can do to help.

Related: The 20 best Ashes moments of all time [Read Sport]