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Steve Smith will soon join Australia’s Test squad in Dubai before traveling with them to Sri Lanka.
Steve Smith suffered elbow injury during Big Bash League.
Cricket Australia (CA)’s medical team has cleared Steve Smith to join the Test squad for the two-match tour of Sri Lanka. The board said Smith underwent a ‘specialist’ review to determine the extent of his elbow injury and is now expected to return to batting practice ‘later this week’.
The 35-year-old, who was named the interim Test captain after Pat Cummins was given a rest for the series, injured his right elbow while attempting a throw during a Big Bash League match on Friday (January 17). CA feared that he might not be able to take part in the tour, but the prospects now seem much brighter.
“Steve Smith has undergone a specialist medical review today following his right elbow injury sustained during the Big Bash League. He has been cleared to rejoin the Test squad and travel to Dubai. Smith is expected to return to batting later in the week to begin his preparation for the first Test against Sri Lanka,” CA said in a statement.
Cricket Australia also confirmed that the selectors are keeping a close eye on Cummins, who picked up a toe injury during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins is expected to return for the Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 and then the subsequent World Test Championship final in England.
“He (Cummins) will seek specialist rehabilitation advice this week and is likely to require a period of physical preparation and recovery,” CA said recently. “The national selection panel will continue to monitor Cummins’ recovery leading into the Champions Trophy.”
Australia has already qualified for the World Test Championship final so the two Tests are not relevant in terms of points. However, it would be much-needed preparation for playing spin in the Champions Trophy in Pakistan for batters who play both ODI and Test formats.
Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
The series will begin on January 29. Australia and Sri Lanka will play two Tests in Galle before moving on to Colombo for two ODIs.
