AUSTRALIA TOUR OF WEST INDIES, 2025
Steve Smith missed the opening Test after dislocating a finger during the WTC final © Getty
Having clinched the opening Test in Barbados inside three days, Australia could be boosted further before the second fixture with veteran batter Steve Smith all set to join the squad by Sunday.
Skipper Pat Cummins has confirmed that Smith resumed batting practice after dislocating his finger during the World Test Championship Final. Smith had flown to his home in New York after the final to continue rehab, thus missing the opening Test.
“He’s had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball,” Cummins said after his side took a 1-0 lead in the series. “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.”
With Marnus Labuschagne getting the axe, Australia’s top four struggled in the first Test in the absence of Smith even though they won the match. In the first innings, they were reduced to 22/3 and in the second, all four were back in the pavilion with just 65 on the board. But Cummins reiterated that the team management would back their young batters.
“You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren’t too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game,” Cummins said. “Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is 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.”
The second match, the first ever Test in Grenada, begins on July 3.
© Cricbuzz
