AUSTRALIA TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2025
Smith missed the opening Test of the series. © Getty
Steven Smith used a baseball batting cage in New York to fast-track his recovery from a dislocated finger and he now looks set to return for the second Test against West Indies. Hitting tennis balls, soft balls and eventually cricket balls in the shaded cage helped him test his hand in heat similar to the Caribbean.
“Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage,” Smith told reporters. “It was ideal because it was pretty warm, like 36 degrees Celsius, so it was good to be in the shade. My mate actually told me about it and he was able to throw me a few balls there.”
Smith suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger during the World Test Championship final against South Africa. With the finger heavily bandaged and movement restricted, he missed the opening Test in Barbados and spent time in his New York apartment.
The 36-year-old said his finger feels fine now and he expects to train normally in Grenada.
“Everything felt good… I just got my stitches out and I’ve got a smaller splint on now, so it’ll be easier getting my hand in the glove,” Smith said. “I don’t really feel any pain or anything. [It’s] just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. It’s not too bad, I’ve got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine.”
Smith admitted the downtime in Barbados was difficult. “I was honestly just bored here,” he said. “I couldn’t do anything, I couldn’t sweat, and I was sort of stuck in the room doing nothing. I’ve got the apartment four-and-a-half hours away. Dani was back there, the dogs were there… so I went back to sit in the air conditioning and watch the boys play.”
Smith will need to prove his fitness at training on Tuesday to confirm his place, but is already preparing for some unfamiliar roles on the field.
“Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either mid-on, mid-off or fine leg, a bit different to standing at second or first slip.”
© Cricbuzz
