New Delhi:
Marnus Labuschagne had created history by becoming the first concussion substitute in history when Steve Smith was withdrawn from the Lord's Test after suffering a blow to the side of the neck by a pacy bouncer from Jofra Archer. Labuschagne's first delivery was a bouncer from Archer at 92 mph and it hit him flush on the helmet and he looked rattled. However, the right-hander showed tremendous composure and slammed a fifty and aided by some sluggish England fielding, Australia managed to hold on for a thrilling draw as the Lord's Test ended with Australia still leading 1-0 in the five-match series.
Labuschagne was not confirmed as playing until Sunday morning. Previously, a substitute would only have been permitted to field. But this series is the first in the ICC's inaugural World Test Championship featuring new rules that allow replacement players to bat or bowl if they are covering for concussed team-mates.
Earlier man-of-the-match Stokes made a fine hundred before Root declared England's second innings on 258-5. Stokes slog-swept off-spinner Nathan Lyon for two sixes in as many deliveries on the way to a 160-ball century, his seventh in Tests and second against Australia.
England pressed hard late on to level the series at 1-1 after captain Joe Root declared to set Australia a stiff target of 267 in 48 overs following Ben Stokes's 115 not out. It seemed the match was destined for a draw, with Australia 132-3 after tea in a Test where five sessions were washed out and rain also delayed Sunday's start by over an hour. But Australia, who won the first Test at Edgbaston by a huge margin of 251 runs, lost three wickets for 17 runs to give England renewed hope.
Labuschagne fell when his sweep off Leach deflected off Jos Buttler at short leg before looping to Root, diving forward at midwicket. The onfield 'soft signal' was out and third umpire Joel Wilson upheld that verdict to the disgust of Labuschagne. Leach then had Matthew Wade (one) taken at short leg before Joe Denly held a sensational diving left-handed catch at midwicket to dismiss Paine following a full-blooded pull off Archer. But with the natural light fading, the umpires appeared to instruct Root not to bowl Archer even though the floodlights were on -- effectively depriving the Sussex quick of two overs.
Come the last over, bowled by left-arm spinner Jack Leach, England needed four wickets for victory, but Pat Cummins played out three deliveries to secure the draw. Fast bowler Archer took 3-32 to finish with five wickets on his Test debut, with Leach returning figures of 3-37.
