Sourav Ganguly says the Ashes are keeping Test Cricket alive, Harbhajan Singh makes big follow-up on 'strong teams'

The ongoing Ashes series has produced some good cricket and cricket fans are swooned by the cricketing action in the first two Tests of the five-match series. The second Test at Lord's Cricket Ground on Sunday ended in a draw. In what was the highlight of the day four of the Test match series, England's Jofra Archer and Australia's Steve Smith battled out on the field. 

Amidst the Jofra Smith incident that caught headlines, former Indian Cricket Captain Sourav Ganguly tweeted saying that it is only this series that has kept the Test cricket alive. In what seemed to be an obvious pun on the word "Ashes", Ganguly known for his wits, said that "Ashes" has kept cricket alive. He also said that rest of the world must raise its standard. 

READ: Ashes 2019: Jofra Archer's bouncer floors yet another batsman, bowler 'shows concern' this time

Backing the statement of Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh opined that standards can only be maintained when teams are strong. He went on to state that only teams that are strong are India, Australia, and England. In what seemed yet again a pun, Singh said that New Zealand is strong team only in New Zealand. 

READ: Ashes 2019: Steve Smith ruled out of remainder of 2nd Test after Jofra Archer's blow leads to delayed concussion

Jofra Archer and Steve Smith episode in The Ashes:

Smith had to deal with two blows on day four of the match. First, he was struck on the elbow by Jofra Archer and soon after he got a hit on the neck by a bouncer from the pacer. Physios from both England and Australia attended Smith, but the batsman had to leave the park to undergo a concussion test. A while later, the batsman made his way back to the crease, but a section of England crowd was seen booing the player.

On the final day of the Test match, Cricket Australia released a statement that Smith had suffered a delayed concussion and as a result, he was ruled out of day five of the second Test. Marcus Labuschagne was named as the concussion substitute in place of Smith. On the final day, Ben Stokes starred for the hosts as he scored a century to put the team in the driving seat. The team set a target of 267, and they were able to scalp six Aussie wickets, but in the end, Travis Head and Pat Cummins ensured Australia does not lose the match.

The Ashes:

Smith has been in remarkable form in the Ashes as he has scored 378 runs in the series so far. In the first Test, he became the fifth Australian to register centuries in both innings in an Ashes Test. He also surpassed Indian skipper Virat Kohli to become the second-fastest batsman to register 25 Test centuries. Nathan Lyon scalped six wickets in the second innings of the first Test, which enabled the team from Down Under to register a 251-run victory. England and Australia will next lock horns in the third Test at Headingley from August 22. Having won the first Test, Australia is leading 1-0 in the series.

READ: Ashes 2019: Ricky Ponting compares Jofra Archer's fiery spell to Harmison's in 2005 that left him with a bloodied cheek