Smith Faces Injury Concern Ahead of West Indies Tour

LONDON: Steve Smith sustained a compound dislocation of his left little finger during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at The Lord’s Cricket Ground, Cricket Australia (CA) verified Friday. The injury occurred as Smith attempted a catch on the third day of the match.

The incident unfolded in the 20th over of South Africa’s second innings. Mitchell Starc induced a thick edge from skipper Temba Bavuma, which flew quickly towards Smith at slip, who was positioned close with a helmet.

The speed and trajectory of the ball seemingly surprised Smith, leading to the dropped catch. At the time, Bavuma was only at two runs.

In addition to the missed opportunity, Smith suffered an injury to his finger. The 36-year-old appeared to be in considerable discomfort and left the field before medical assistance arrived.

A CA spokesperson stated, “He received an assessment from the Australian team’s medical personnel at the ground and was then transported to a hospital for X-rays and further medical care.”

Steve Smith’s dropped catch has proven to be a setback. Furthermore, it casts uncertainty on Australia’s batting lineup for the approaching tour of West Indies, scheduled to commence on June 25 in Barbados.

At the time of reporting, the Proteas held a strong position at 185/2, chasing 282, needing 97 additional runs with eight wickets remaining.

Earlier, Australia were dismissed for 207 after resuming their second innings from 144/8. Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc led the scoring, with Starc achieving an unbeaten 58.