Cricket-Australia's Smith return confirmed for second test v Windies
(Reuters) -Australia batsman Steve Smith will return for the second test against West Indies in Grenada, replacing Josh Inglis, captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Wednesday.
Cummins said Smith had recovered sufficiently from a dislocated finger to resume his position at number four for the match starting on Thursday.
Inglis misses out after scoring five and 12 in the only change following Australia's 159-run win in the Barbados series-opener.
Smith dislocated his right little finger in last month's World Test Championship final and will be required to wear a splint for five weeks, Cricket Australia said.
However, the veteran came through a 30-minute batting session unscathed along with some slips catching drills.
"He's ready to go, the finger held up well," Cummins told reporters.
"He was really happy, particularly batting."
Australia XI:
Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
From vertigo to victory, Chile's Jarry reaches Wimbledon last 16
LONDON: Nicolas Jarry has been to hell and back in the last year but on Friday on a sun-kissed court in south-west London the towering Chilean put the dark days behind him to reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time in his career. Those with tickets for what was billed as a South American showdown on Court Two had expected to see Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca underline why he is tipped as the next big thing. The 18-year-old showed flashes of the shot-making that will surely make him a contender for Grand Slam titles but it was the 29-year-old Jarry who produced a display of skill and guts to win a slow-burner 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4). Fonseca could be excused for thinking Jarry was serving down from an Andean peak in the opening two sets as he seemed powerless to make any impact on a weapon that produced 25 aces. But as the seats that were empty early on began to fill with chanting fans the atmosphere suddenly became more Copacabana than leafy west London, and Rio-born Fonseca came to the party. Fonseca took the third set and as the crowd greeted his winners with a chorus of 'Joooaooww... Fon-Seca' it seemed the match was swinging his way. Jarry had to save three break points at 3-3 in the fourth set and was staring down the barrel two games later at 0-40 as Fonseca, who twice needed treatment during the contest, whipped up the crowd with some stunning passes. Undaunted, Jarry served his way out of a hole and then reeled off five points in a row from a 2-4 deficit in the tiebreak to claim victory and match his grandfather Jaime Fillol who reached the last 16 at Wimbledon in 1974. Jarry was overcome with emotion, hugged his wife and then brought his young son on court before opening his heart about what he has had to overcome in the past 12 months. Those not in the know would have been surprised to hear the former top-20 player describe how a year ago he was diagnosed with vestibular neuritis – a condition which causes inflammation of the nerve that connects the inner ear to the brain and causes vertigo, dizziness and imbalance. "I had the issue which affected my perception, my balance and I've been trying to come back and recover," an emotional Jarry said. "It's been physically, emotionally and psychologically very tough." Such was the impact of the condition that after reaching the Rome final last year, his form fell off a cliff, the wins dried up, and his ranking plummeted outside the top 100. He had to qualify for Wimbledon this year, winning three matches, but now he is looking forward to the prospect of a clash with Britain's Cameron Norrie tomorrow. - REUTERS
The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Rugby-Welsh misery continues as they lose first test in Japan
(Reuters) -Japan stormed back in the second half to beat Wales 24-19 on Kyushu Island on Saturday in the first of a two-test series, extending the visitors' record losing streak to 18 matches. Japan were 19-7 down at the break, but two second-half tries saw them come back to overhaul the deficit. There were three tries for both teams in the clash in hot and humid conditions in an error-strewn clash at the Mikuni World Stadium, where Wales were hoping to end 18 months of misery, having last won a match at the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia in Nantes, France. They looked to be well on course at the break but fell apart in the second half as Japan rallied for the narrow victory. Japan's fullback Takuro Matsunaga scored in the first half, while his replacement Ichigo Nakakusu and fellow substitute Halatoa Vailea went over for two more tries. All were converted by Lee Seungsin, who also kicked over a penalty. The tourists' points came in the first half, with Ben Thomas and Tom Rogers going over, and Wales also awarded a penalty try. Sam Costelow kicked over a single conversion. Welsh rugby is seeking to rebuild after plunging to a new low in a 68-14 defeat to England in their final Six Nations game in March, but the loss in Japan is a further blow as they will now drop to 14th in the world rankings. Thomas gave them an early lead, finishing off a break from the lineout by Taulupe Faletau to go over in the fourth minute. Japan levelled matters with a score from their first attack in the 16th minute with some slick handling in the backline, but Wales were 19-7 ahead at the break after the penalty try and Rogers' score in the corner. Nakakusu reduced the deficit with a 59th-minute try as Japan took control in the second half against a weary and nervy-looking Wales side, with Lee's penalty five minutes later making it a two-point game with 15 minutes to go. Halatoa Vailea then finished off a line-out maul to see Japan go ahead in the 71st minute and claim the victory. The two teams meet again next Saturday in the second test at Misaki Park in Kobe. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Alison Williams)
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Liverpool teammates gather in Portugal for Jota funeral
Portuguese soccer player Jota Silva holds flowers as he arrives at the Chapel of the Resurrection, the location of the wake for Liverpool's Portuguese soccer player Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, who died in a car crash near Zamora, Spain, in Gondomar, Portugal, July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Pedro Nunes GONDOMAR, Portugal -(Reuters) -Liverpool players were gathering in the small Portuguese town of Gondomar on Saturday for the funeral of their English Premier League soccer teammate Diogo Jota, who died with his younger brother in a car crash in Spain on Thursday. Club captain Virgil Van Dijk, goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher and manager Arne Slot were among teammates past and present who arrived in Portugal late on Friday to pay their respects to the striker and his brother, Andre Silva. They are expected to join the grieving family and hundreds of residents of Gondomar, a small town in northern Portugal where Jota grew up, for the funeral at the Igreja Matriz church. Rute Cardoso, who married Jota just weeks ago, is expected to be accompanied by the couple's three young children. Jota's death at the age of 28 sent shock waves through the world of football and beyond, with messages of condolences pouring in from national leaders as well as across the sport. The brothers were believed to have been driving to a ferry in Spain to travel to Britain when their Lamborghini veered off the road and burst into flames after midnight on Thursday. Police said they suspected a tyre had burst. (Reporting by Graham Keeley and Sergio Gonclaves. Editing by Mark Potter)
