Steve Smith Suffers Elbow Injury Ahead of Sri Lanka Test Series
Australian stand-in skipper’s departure delayed; Travis Head likely to lead if Smith is unavailable
Image Source: Nine
Australia’s preparations for the forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka have hit a setback as stand-in captain Steve Smith sustained an elbow injury during the rain-marred Big Bash League clash between the Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder on Friday.
The injury has delayed the departure of 35-year-old Steve Smith to Dubai. Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that Smith is consulting the medical team, but he is expected to leave for Dubai later this week.
“He will remain in Australia while the surgical wound heals further. He is planned to resume bowling this week with a view to joining the squad in Sri Lanka if he continues to progress well,” CA stated, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
This is not the first time when Smith is battling with an elbow injury. In 2019, he underwent surgery for a similar injury, which raised concerns about his fitness.
Smith was set to captain the team in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, who is on paternity leave and nursing a minor ankle injury. If Smith is deemed unfit, vice captain Travis Head is expected to lead the team.
Australia’s 18-man team for the series against Sri Lanka includes some notable players. Former Under-19 World Cup captain Cooper Connolly has also been included in the Test team for the first time, while Nathan McSweeney has been recalled to the team despite missing recent matches in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Spinners Matt Kuhnemann and Todd Murphy return, while pacers Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Marsh are unavailable due to injuries as they focus on the ICC Champions Trophy. Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, and Peter Handscomb, who were expected to be selected for the tour, were eventually not selected.
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