WI vs AUS: Steve Smith shares update on finger injury before Grenada Test
Steve Smith said he hasn't felt any pain and has recovered well from the finger injury he sustained during the World Test Championship 2023-25 final against South Africa at Lord's. The veteran dislocated his finger while attempting a catch in the slips during the summit clash and was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.Although he didn't require surgery, Smith missed the opening Test against the West Indies, which Australia won by 159 runs at the Kensington Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. However, the 36-year-old sounded confident about returning for the second Test, scheduled to begin on July 3 at the National Cricket Stadium in St George's, Grenada.advertisement"For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think," Smith was quoted as saying by ICC."I don't really feel any pain or anything. (It's) just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine.'
Smith, however, might not field in the slip cordon given his recent injury. But he's unlikely to face issues while batting. "Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me, I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg, is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip."If Smith plays, Josh Inglis is likely to sit out after scoring only five and 12 in the opening Test. Smith has an exceptional Test record against the West Indies, having notched 872 runs at an average of 124.57 with three hundreds and as many fifties. - Ends
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
26 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Steve Smith trained in a baseball cage in New York to be fit for Australia's Caribbean test
Australian batter Steve Smith's quick recovery from a 'compound dislocation' in the little finger of his right hand, and his sooner-than-expected return to the squad for the second Test against the West Indies, has a baseball twist to it. Smith has suffered an injury to his right little finger while trying to take a difficult catch off South African captain Temba Bavuma at first slip during the World Test Championship final at Lord's earlier this month. The 36-year-old former Australian skipper immediately left London after his wound was cleaned, stitched, and his finger was placed in a splint. Instead of waiting for the injury to heal by itself, he decided to hit the 'baseball cage' in New York, where he owns an apartment. The injury forced him to miss the opening game of the three-Test series against the Caribbean in Barbados from June 25 to 27, which Australia won by 159 runs. In New York, he began by facing tennis balls and other soft balls in the nets before facing the hard cricket ball. 'My mate actually told me about it, which was ideal because it was pretty warm there (in New York),' Smith was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo. 'Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage, and he was able to throw me a few balls there, so it was good to be in the shade, it was pretty hot there,' he said. ALSO READ | Azhar Mahmood named acting head coach of Pakistan Test side ahead of new WTC cycle Smith sent the footage of his batting to the Australian medical staff in the Caribbean, who were happy with his progress. The report added that Smith had his stitches removed on Sunday and his finger now only has a thinner splint as he gears up for his return for the second Test at St George's from July 3. 'For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think. I don't really feel any pain or anything. (I'm) just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. 'It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine,' said Smith 'Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me, I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg, is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip,' he added. Smith, meanwhile, backed the new players in the Australian side, including opener Sam Konstas, to come good in the second Test. 'These guys are good players, there's been a lot of talk around it but... we just need to give them an opportunity,' said Smith. 'It doesn't always come around straight away. We've just got to give them an opportunity and let them get used to playing in these conditions and in international cricket. These guys have some really good talent and I think they have bright futures,' he added.
India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
Batting cage and tennis balls: Steve Smith fast tracks recovery before 2nd Test
Senior Australia batter Steve Smith is desperate to make his return from a finger injury. Smith, who dislocated his finger in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa, is looking to make a comeback in the 2nd Test match against West to ESPNcricinfo, Smith revealed that he could not sit in his apartment, waiting for his injury to heal and instead got to training in a baseball cage in New injury forced him to miss the opening game of the three-Test series against the Caribbean in Barbados from June 25 to 27, which Australia won by 159 runs. In New York, he began by facing tennis balls and other soft balls in the nets before facing the hard cricket ball. "My mate actually told me about it, which was ideal because it was pretty warm there (in New York)," Smith said in an interview."Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage, and he was able to throw me a few balls there, so it was good to be in the shade. It was pretty hot there," he in Running for 2nd Test vs WIA baseball cage is a netted enclosure, quite similar to the cricket nets, used by baseball players to practice hitting. It provides a contained area where batters can safely swing and hit baseballs without the risk of stray balls leaving the hitting sent the footage of his batting to the Australian medical staff in the Caribbean, who were happy with his it is not clear if he will play the second Test at St George's from July 3 or not, Smith has shown clear signs of recovery."For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think. I don't really feel any pain or anything. (I'm) just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement."It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine," said Smith."Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me. I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip,' he meanwhile, backed the new players in the Australian side, including opener Sam Konstas, to come good in the second Test."These guys are good players, there's been a lot of talk around it but... we just need to give them an opportunity," said Smith."It doesn't always come around straight away. We've just got to give them an opportunity and let them get used to playing in these conditions and in international cricket. These guys have some really good talent and I think they have bright futures,' he added.- Ends
NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
Training In Baseball Cage: How Steve Smith Prepared For West Indies Test Series
Charismatic Australian batter Steve Smith's quick recovery from a "compound dislocation" in the little finger of his right hand, and his sooner-than-expected return to the squad for the second Test against West Indies has a baseball twist to it. Smith has suffered an injury to his right little finger while trying to take a difficult catch off South African captain Temba Bavuma at first slip during the World Test Championship final at Lord's earlier this month. The 36-year-old former Australian skipper immediately left London after his wound was cleaned, stitched and his finger placed in a splint. Instead of waiting for the injury to heal by itself, he decided to hit the "baseball cage" in New York, where he owns an apartment. The injury forced him to miss the opening game of the three-Test series against the Caribbean in Barbados from June 25 to 27, which Australia won by 159 runs. In New York, he began by facing tennis balls and other soft balls in the nets before facing the hard cricket ball. "My mate actually told me about it, which was ideal because it was pretty warm there (in New York)," Smith was quoted as saying in ESPNcricinfo. "Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage, and he was able to throw me a few balls there, so it was good to be in the shade, it was pretty hot there," he said. A baseball cage is a netted enclosure, quite similar to the cricket nets, used by baseball players to practice hitting. It provides a contained area where batters can safely swing and hit baseballs, without the risk of stray balls leaving the hitting area. Smith sent the footage of his batting to the Australian medical staff in the Caribbean, who were happy with his progress. The report added that Smith had his stitches removed on Sunday and his finger now only has a thinner splint as he gears up for his return for the second Test at St George's from July 3. "For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think. I don't really feel any pain or anything. (I'm) just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. "It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine," said Smith "Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me, I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg, is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip,' he added. Smith, meanwhile, backed the new players in the Australian side, including opener Sam Konstas, to come good in the second Test. "These guys are good players, there's been a lot of talk around it but... we just need to give them an opportunity," said Smith. "It doesn't always come around straight away. We've just got to give them an opportunity and let them get used to playing in these conditions and in international cricket. These guys have some really good talent and I think they have bright futures,' he added. PTI DDV AM Having missed the opening Test against the West Indies, Smith is in line to return for the second Test starting on Thursday. DDV AM AM
