Latest news with #Smith
Mint
5 hours ago
- Sport
- Mint
Australias Steve Smith takes step closer to return, had 'few hits' in New York, confirms skipper Cummins
Bridgetown [Barbados], June 28 (ANI): Australia's batting mainstay Steve Smith is set to rejoin the squad in Barbados and had a crack in the nets as he strives to prove his fitness ahead of the second Test against the West Indies. Smith was absent during Australia's 159-run victory over the Caribbean side in the three-match series opener in Barbados, which lasted three days. The talismanic batter's absence stems from the compound dislocation he sustained on the third day of the pulsating World Test Championship final against South Africa, which took place earlier this month. Australia skipper Pat Cummins revealed Smith has returned to batting practice in New York as he aims to push his case by proving his fitness for the second fixture in Grenada, scheduled to begin on June 3. "He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball. I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. "So we'll know more over the next few days," Cummins said as quoted from On Kensington Oval's strip that played all sorts of tricks on the batters, the Baggy Greens missed Smith's experience after tottering at 22/3 in the first innings and 65/4 in the second. With Marnus Labuschagne axed from the squad, it was the first time Australia lined up without the duo since 2018. Labuschagne, a victim of poor form, was replaced by young opener Sam Konstas. The 19-year-old swashbuckler returned with scores of three and five in his third Test appearance before being dismissed by Shamar Joseph in both innings. Meanwhile, Josh Inglis, who was slotted in the number four spot, registered five and 12. Cameron Green, who made his second appearance in the number three spot, was unimpressive yet again. While batting at first drop, Green was caught at slip in both innings for three and 15. Despite a no-show from Australian youngsters, Cummins confirmed that they would continue to back the youngsters and said, "You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren't too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game. Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is that when you get thrown different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective." "That's the challenge for our young batting group - if you presented that same wicket next week, would you do anything differently? Would you not? That will be the conversation over the next few days. But we back them in, and their prep leading in was excellent, and the way they're talking about playing is really good, so we've got full confidence," he added. (ANI)
India Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- India Today
WI vs AUS: Steve Smith begins batting, hopes to prove fitness for Grenada Test
Australian skipper Pat Cummins revealed that Steve Smith is already back to batting practice in New York and could be available for the second Test against the West Indies in Grenada. Smith was out of action from the Australian Test team after picking up a finger injury during the recently concluded World Test Championship final at Lord's. The batter had picked up a compound dislocation to his right little finger while trying to take a catch at the to a report by he had flown to New York to continue his rehabilitation. Cummin revealed that if Smith was able to clear the fitness tests, he would slot right back into the side for the next Test against the West Indies at Grenada's National Stadium on July 3."He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball," Cummins mentioned following Australia's win in the opening Test at Bridgetown. "I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets," he return to the side will be a big boost, considering that the Australian batting unit missed his consistency in the middle-order. Despite being able to win the first Test, they were put through the wringer by the pace of Shamar Joseph and Jayden Seales, who ran riot in both what was a bowling track, Travis Head's twin fifties alongside Beau Webster and Alex Carey's half-centuries in the second innings ensured that the bowlers had enough runs on the board to go all-out and clean up the West Indies batting unit fairly easily to get their new World Test Championship campaign off to a on the performances of the young stars, Cummins highlighted how he would continue backing the inexperienced players who put up a disappointing performance. The likes of Sam Konstas, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis struggled to step up in tough batting conditions, and the captain hopes they can learn from the situation and build themselves."Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is that when you get thrown in different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective," Cummins shared."But we backed them in, and their prep leading in was excellent, and the way they're talking about playing is really good, so we've got full confidence," he Grenada also provide a similar track, and will the West Indies be able to notch a win in their name? Australia certainly don't have any plans of falling short and will hope Smith's return takes them back to dominant ways.- EndsMust Watch
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Dangerous driving conviction overturned after 'passenger seat' Snapchat video
A young man has had his conviction for dangerous driving overturned after a court viewed a Snapchat video which he argued proves he was actually in the passenger seat of the car as it was pursued by Gardaí. Myles Smith, 22, had his conviction quashed at the District Court Appeals Court on Thursday despite the State submitting that other video footage presented as evidence in the case had been edited. Mr Smith, with an address at Mount Symon Lawn, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, had pleaded not guilty in the District Court to dangerous driving contrary to section 53.1 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, and had also denied counts of driving with no insurance, driving without a licence, two counts of failure to produce documents and failure to produce information contrary to section 107 4b of the same act. Garda Andrew Burlingham told the appeals court that he was on patrol in the Blanchardstown area on April 12, 2021 at around 9pm when he observed a car drive from the left lane to the right lane without indicating and crossing over another vehicle. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week He said that he saw the car fail to indicate and turn back into Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, where his Garda colleague activated his lights and sirens to indicate for the car to stop. Garda Burlingham said that the vehicle failed to stop and that he observed it driving at high speed, forcing other road users to take evasive action. He said that in the following pursuit, he saw the car driving extremely fast over speed bumps, ignore a red light and drive the wrong way around a roundabout. He said he pursued the car as it approached Aldemere Drive in Clonsilla, where he said it mounted a green area in an estate and was abandoned by the occupants. Garda Burlingham said that he saw Mr Smith exit from the driver's side of the car, that he pursued him to where he was hiding in a wooded area and arrested him. On the count of dangerous driving, Mr Smith was disqualified from driving for two years and given a fine of €450 in the District Court. He also got a two-year driving ban and a €400 fine for his charge of driving with no insurance and a fine of €300 for his charge of driving without a licence. Defence counsel for Mr Smith, Aoife McNickle BL, submitted that her client was not driving the car during the incident. Counsel said that he was sitting in the passenger side of the vehicle at the time, and presented a Snapchat video taken by Mr Smith during the pursuit, which she said proved he was in the passenger seat. The footage, which was played to the court, showed Mr Smith sitting in the car while flashing lights from the Gardaí could be seen through the rear window and wing mirrors. She also presented a second video, taken by Mr Smith after the event, in order to prove his position in the car was in fact the passenger seat, not the driver seat. Counsel for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Clare Barry, put it to Mr Smith that she believed the second video had been edited between the moments when the camera flipped between front-facing and back-facing angles. She said that 'even the most digitally illiterate people can do that'. Mr Smith denied that the footage was edited and maintained that he was in the passenger seat and not driving the car. Mr Smith also claimed that Garda Burlingham was not the Garda member who arrested him at the scene. Ms Barry said it was the State's case that Mr Smith was driving the car during the chase and that the second video, which he said proved he was in the passenger seat, was not authentic. Mr Smith denied this claim in court. Judge Jonathan Dunphy said that after 'numerous viewings' of the video evidence, he had doubt over who was driving the car. He said that although Mr Smith's behaviour as a passenger of the car was 'a disgrace', he must give him the benefit of the doubt and found there is no satisfactory evidence that he was the owner or driver of the car. He decided to allow the appeal of Mr Smith's conviction on these grounds.
The Age
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Age
‘We back them in': Australia to persist with wobbly top order as Smith comeback looms
Bridgetown: Pat Cummins says Steve Smith will rejoin Australia's squad this weekend and could be cleared to return for the second Test in Grenada, as the side's under-pressure top order looks to bounce back from a shaky start to the West Indies tour. Smith has been facing tennis balls in New York as part of his recovery from a compound finger dislocation he sustained during last month's World Test Championship final. If Smith passes a fitness test in the nets early next week in the Caribbean, he is expected to slot back into the side for the second Test, which starts on Thursday, likely at the expense of Josh Inglis, who batted at No.4 this week without much success. 'He's had a few hits over in New York with a tennis ball and an incrediball [a softer training ball],' Cummins said. 'I think his wound is looking good. The next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. I think we'll know more over the next couple of days. 'He's not a certainty. I think he's got a few things to tick off. So we'll work that out over the next few days. Of course if he's fit, he'll be straight back in.' Australia's bowlers set up a 159-run win in the first Test in Barbados, but the top order failed to fire in tough conditions. Sam Konstas (three and five), Cameron Green (three and 15) and Inglis (five and 12) were all dismissed cheaply. Cummins said he did not anticipate selectors would consider sweeping changes despite the modest returns. 'You saw how tricky that was,' Cummins said. 'There weren't many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game and of course the top order would like to score some more runs.
Hamilton Spectator
7 hours ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Smith and Diaz hit 3-run homers as Astros beat Cubs 7-4, extend win streak to 5 games
HOUSTON (AP) — Cam Smith hit a three-run homer in his first game against the Cubs since being traded to Houston and Brandon Walter threw six solid innings in his first MLB victory as the Astros beat Chicago 7-4 on Friday night. Yainer Diaz added a three-run homer as AL West-leading Houston extended its winning streak to five games. The Astros scored four runs in the third off Cubs starter Cade Horton (3-2), with Jose Altuve scoring on a sacrifice fly by Victor Caratini before Diaz capped the inning with his 377-foot shot to left-center. Smith, a first-round draft selection by Chicago last year was acquired by the Astros in the offseason as part of the deal for Kyle Tucker, extended Houston's lead to 7-0 in the fourth with his home run off the left field façade, his sixth of the season. Smith had two hits and scored two runs. Walter (1-1), a 28-year-old left-hander, allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Josh Hader got the final out for his 22nd save. Jeremy Peña exited in the fifth with left rib soreness. He was hit by a pitch in his left side in the second. There was no immediate word on the extent of his injury. Nico Hoerner hit a solo home run in the fifth, and Matt Shaw added a two-run double in the seventh and an RBI double in the ninth for NL Central-leading Chicago. Horton allowed seven runs on eight hits with four walks in four innings. Tucker was hitless in his return to Houston. He kept the game scoreless in the first, throwing Isaac Paredes out at the plate to end the frame. Key moment Hader inducing a lineout to center by Ian Happ to end it with Tucker, representing the tying run, on deck. Key stat Houston has its second five-game winning streak for the month of June, and improved to an MLB-best 18-6 this month. Up next Cubs RHP Colin Rea (4-3, 4.42 ERA) starts the second game of the three-game series Saturday. Lance McCullers Jr. (1-2, 4.91) is expected to come off the 15-day injured list and start for Houston. ___ AP MLB:
