Steve Smith Back As Australia Announce Playing XI For 2nd Test Vs West Indies
Steve Smith has recovered from a finger injury he sustained during the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
Steve Smith has recovered from a serious dislocated finger and will return for Australia's second Test against the West Indies this week, replacing Josh Inglis, according to skipper Pat Cummins. Smith injured his finger while fielding in the slips during the World Test Championship final at Lord's three weeks ago and was taken to hospital.
This injury sidelined him for the first Test in Barbados, which Australia won by 159 runs, and his absence was felt as the side's top order struggled.
'He's ready to go, the finger held up well," Cummins said on Wednesday at St George's in Grenada, with the 36-year-old set to bat with a splint.
Smith will return to the number four spot after Inglis failed to capitalize on his opportunity, scoring just five and 12.
While Inglis misses out, the selectors have retained teenager Sam Konstas as Usman Khawaja's opening partner and the under-performing Cameron Green at three, resisting the urge to recall the axed Marnus Labuschagne, who remains with the squad.
The rest of the team remains unchanged, with the formidable combination of Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood leading the attack once again.
'He was really happy, particularly batting," Cummins added about Smith, who is unlikely to field in his usual slip position.
'Fielding we still potentially need to manage a little bit. So he might not be in the slips too often – maybe for spin he'll be okay, but for the quicks he might need to wait another week."
Cummins said it was an unknown and having vice-captain Smith back to help him problem-solve was a bonus.
'That's one of his great strengths," he said of the 117-Test veteran.
'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.
'Having that knowledge is going to be helpful, particularly for the guys who haven't played too many Tests or first-class games on similar wickets."
With AFP Inputs
First Published:
July 03, 2025, 09:09 IST
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