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Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger during the WTC final, a major blow for Australia.
Steve Smith has dislocated his right little finger (Picture credit: AP)
In what has come as a huge blow for defending champions Australia in the World Test Championship final, ace batter Steve Smith has been taken to a hospital for scans after he suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while attempting to take a catch.
Smith’s finger was left bent at a bizarre angle after he dropped a sharp opportunity by South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma on the third afternoon of the WTC Final at the Lord’s.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed to The Age that Smith was all set to be taken for X-rays on the damaged finger. Australia have a Test scheduled against the Windies in Barbados on June 25.
“Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon during the ICC Men’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s,” a Cricket Australia spokesperson was quoted as saying by The Age.
“He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to the hospital for X-rays and further treatment,” the spokesperson added.
Smith had planned to make a small trip to the US to play for the Washington Freedom in MLC between Test assignments, but that looks unlikely now.
“He’s simply the best batter in Australian cricket in this generation. Simple as that. He’ll have eight weeks, at least, plus a bit of rehab time to get the bat and ball in hand and feel his way around it. Potential surgery there for sure,” Matthew Hayden said while commentating.
Smith, fielding with a helmet, was standing in an advanced slip position when he couldn’t hold on to a fast-travelling edge from South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma, who had just made two runs at the time. At the time of writing, he was batting on 40.
Smith knew he was in trouble and appeared close to vomiting in pain when he looked down to see the shape his finger was in.
Medical staff were on the field soon to bring Smith back into the dressing room, where his finger was assessed and X-rays were called for.
Smith’s exit from the field was a blow for Australia as they looked to bowl out the Proteas and bag consecutive world titles, robbing skipper Pat Cummins of a top-class catcher.
South Africa, 76/2 when the opportunity went down, were 94/2 at tea, still 188 runs shy of their target. Aiden Markram was 49 not out and Bavuma, hobbling after on-field treatment for a longstanding hamstring problem, unbeaten on 11.
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