Bit of a pet hate when people do this kind of thing. Like, of course that's all that matters - but we were having a debate about a hypothetical because it's a forum where people like to chat shit about cricket and that was the OP people were discussing. You may as well have said - the only thing that happened is what happened. Total f***ing truism.
I think Anderson has a decent record against him on pitches like we've those we've played on. If you serve him up a road like he got last time at Lords, he'll cart Anderson all over the f***ing shop. That's why I said "on nibblers".
I predict he'll be a different Smith when he lines up in Old Trafford. Listened to his interview an hour ago and he is very shaken. I mean, of course he is - he was f***ing concussed, and was so when he gave the interview. But he admitted he'd have to change his helmet against Archer. When players have taken knocks like that before, it has changed their game completely and even ended careers (Jonathan Trott). Not saying that will happen, but I think you are understating how serious what happened yesterday is. It could have killed him - and there's no way he'll be on the pitch at Headingly if there is anything like a proper duty of care shown for him by his team's medical staff. Three weeks in other sports for that - mandatory.
Also think it's fair to say Archer is pretty clearly the fastest bowler in the world. He's statistically the fastest through the air anyway, but with that action I'd say guess he's a fair bit faster than Starc or Wood or Shami off the pitch too. Hence why he conks so many (as well as his angle). So no, I don't think Smith has faced much like that either tbh.