Australia cricket team are on the backfoot having lost the first Test of the five-match series against India by a massive 295 runs at the Optus Stadium in Perth last week. In the just a few days, India and Australia will lock horns again for the second Test, which will be a ‘Pink ball’ Day-Night Test at the Adelaide Oval from Friday (December 6) for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT).
Ahead of the ‘Pink Ball’ Test, Australian team hit the nets in Adelaide but the hosts suffered a big blow with former captain Steve Smith suffering a painful blow. After batting for more than hour and a half in the nets on Monday morning, Smith was taking throwdowns from fellow batter Marnus Labuschagne when he was struck a painful blow on the fingers.
Smith was immediately writhing in pain and showed his finger to the physio and went into the dressing room. Labuschagne himself also took a painful blow in the nets while taking throwdown from assistant coach Daniel Vettori.
The video of Steve Smith getting injured soon went viral on social media. Smith, who is part of the ‘Fab Four’ with Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Joe Root, had a forgettable first Test at Perth where he was dismissed for 0 and 17.
Steve Smith is receiving medical attention to his thumb after a Marnus Labuschagne throw-down. pic.twitter.com/9webpVFZjS
— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) December 3, 2024
After a short while, Smith was back batting in another net, seemingly not having suffered any long-term damage that could impact his participation in Adelaide. In the first Test at Perth, Smith was dismissed for a golden duck in the first innings by Jasprit Bumrah before being caught behind for 17 in the second innings off Mohammed Siraj during their massive run chase of 534 runs.
Pat Cummins-led side would need their premier batter in form if they want to have any serious chances of bouncing back. In 13 Tests of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship (2023-25) cycle, Smith has scored just 755 runs in 26 innings, averaging a sub-par 32.82, with a century and four fifties only to show for and a best score of 110.
In 11 Test since his last century against England in July last year, Smith has scored 589 runs in 11 matches at an average of 31.00, with just four fifties in 22 innings and best score of 91 not out. Smith has played six Tests this year, having scored just 230 runs in 12 innings at a shockingly poor average of 25.55, with one fifty and best score of 91 not out to his name.
Senior pacer Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the pink-ball match due to a side strain, with Scott Boland looking all but set to play. Also, pacers Sean Abbott and Brendan Doggett have also been called up to cover up for Hazlewood in the squad.
Also, all-rounder Beau Webster was included in the squad as a cover for Mitchell Marsh, even though the 33-year-old declared himself fit for the Adelaide Test. Marsh is expected to play as a specialist batter in Adelaide.
