Steve Smith Updates on Finger Injury Ahead of West Indies Tour

Steve Smith's Injury Update

Steve Smith, the renowned Australian batsman, has shared details regarding the injury he incurred to his finger during the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's.

On the third day of the thrilling match, Smith was rushed to the hospital after suffering a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip position. The incident occurred when South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, edged the ball towards him. Smith attempted to catch it with quick reflexes but ended up injuring his finger in the process.

Concerns Over Availability for West Indies Series

With a series of three away Tests against the West Indies approaching, there are worries regarding the 36-year-old's fitness for the tour set to begin on June 25. Smith addressed these concerns following the initial assessment of his injury, indicating that he remains hopeful for participation in the Caribbean matches.

"I will be in a splint for eight weeks now, and I may be able to play with it in a couple of weeks. It will depend on my functionality and what I am able to do, so it was probably the best result I could have hoped for," Smith stated after Australia's five-wicket defeat to South Africa at Lord's.

Impact of the Injury During the Match

The dropped catch by Smith proved detrimental for Australia, especially since Bavuma was on just two runs at the time. Following that moment, Bavuma went on to score 66 runs off 134 balls, forming a crucial partnership with Aiden Markram. During the incident, Smith was positioned close to Bavuma and wore a helmet to protect against the unpredictable bounce of the pitch.

"I was standing pretty close with the helmet on, and as we saw throughout the game, a lot of nicks went short of first and second slip. The plan was to stand pretty close, and I lost sight of it with the angle that Mitchell Starc was bowling, and it kind of went inside Bavuma's hip," Smith explained.

"I didn't quite see it until really late and it kind of dipped on me a little bit late too as well. It was tricky, it didn't go in my hand very well, and fortunately, there is no break there, and it just split the skin and dislocated it, which made me feel pretty ill at that stage," he added.

Smith's Mixed Feelings About Lord's

Smith has expressed conflicting emotions about playing at the 'Home of Cricket,' reflecting on his past experiences. In 2019, he was struck on the head by a bouncer from England's fast bowler Jofra Archer.

"I have a love/hate relationship with this place now. I have had some good memories here and some not so good ones as well. Getting hit in the head by Jofra (Archer) in 2019 and now having my digit knocked off out here yesterday as well. But it's a wonderful place to play cricket, and I have enjoyed it here, and it was a real good game of cricket again," he remarked.