Australian veteran batter Steve Smith back for Test against West Indies

7NEWS

2 days ago

Steve Smith is back.
Just 20 days after suffering a nasty compound dislocation of his finger, Australian captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that the star batter will return for Australia's second Test against the West Indies.
Smith couldn't take any further part in the World Test Championship final at Lord's after being forced to hospital following a nasty incident in the field on day three.
But Smith avoided surgery, instead wearing a splint on his right little finger while it heals.
The 36-year-old spent time at his second home in New York after the WTC defeat in London, before flying to join his teammates in the Caribbean.
Smith batted in the nets for the first time on Tuesday in a clear sign he is desperate to return for the match at Grenada's National Stadium.
'He's ready to go. The finger held up well. He was really happy, particularly batting,' Australian captain Pat Cummins said.
'Fielding we still potentially need to manage it a little bit, so he might not be in the slips too often. Maybe for spin he'll be OK, but (for the) quicks he might need to wait another week.
'So you might see him running around a bit more … probably some variation (between) mid-off and fine leg, (but) we'll see if he lasts a few days down at fine leg. I reckon he'll be itching to get up in the circle pretty quick.'
Australia has never played a Test at the Grenada stadium and Cummins said Smith's wise head on unfamiliar territory would come in handy.
'That's one of his great strengths,' Cummins said.
'He's scored runs all over the world and that means that while he's not played a game here, he seems to work out pretty quickly what needs to be done and where your scoring areas are.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey said 'anytime you add 10,000 runs back into the line-up, you're going to be pretty happy with it'.
'He seems pretty confident, so he's excited to get back in,' Carey said.
'It's been tough at the top of the order, so to add a little bit more experience is good for the group, but I think they've (been) doing a pretty good job.'
Sadly for Josh Inglis, who batted at No.4 in the first Test and was dismissed playing ordinary shots for 5 and 12, he will be left out and Marnus Labuschagne will again be left on the sidelines.
But Australia are determined to give teenage opener Sam Konstas an extended run despite the fact he was bossed by Windies spearhead Shamar Joseph.
Cameron Green also struggled in his second straight Test at No.3, but is in a similar position to Konstas where he won't be dropped.
One of Australia's greatest fielders, Smith is expected to be forced out of the slips cordon to mid-off or fine leg.
When he dislocated his finger against South Africa, Smith was standing at a close slip with a helmet on due to many edges in the WTC final not carrying.
But the one edge that did carry travelled like a bullet, damaging Smith's finger and leaving the Proteas in the box seat to pull off the upset victory.
Australia will retain the Frank Worrell Trophy, which they have held since 1995, if they back up their 159-run win in the first Test.
Joseph caused Australia dramas in Bridgetown by taking nine wickets, backing up his match-winning heroics from the Gabba in January 2024.