Australia Test vice-captain Steve Smith is set to make his return for the second Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy, taking place at St George’s in Grenada from July 3 to 7.
Smith, who missed the first Test in Barbados—where Australia secured a 159-run win—rejoined the squad last Sunday after completing rehab in New York for a dislocated little finger sustained during the World Test Championship final. In his first training session back, he batted for close to an hour while adjusting to a protective splint on the injured finger.
As per Cricket Australia, Smith faced fast bowlers briefly, followed by throwdowns and spin before engaging in an extended fielding session. During the session, the team physio rebandaged his finger, indicating ongoing monitoring. One of the safest hands in the team, Smith is unlikely to field at slips. With spinners in operation, he can but against the pacers, the 36-year-old won’t be standing in the cordon.
Carey happy to have Smith back in the mix
Teammate Alex Carey hinted at Smith’s likely return to the XI, noting his value to the side.
“Anytime you add 10,000 runs back into the line-up, you’re going to be pretty happy,” Carey said during training on Tuesday. “He seems confident and excited to return. It’s been tough up top, so having his experience is a boost.”
Smith is expected to return to his regular No. 4 spot, potentially replacing either Josh Inglis or Cameron Green in the batting order. He will bolster a relatively inexperienced batting unit that failed to pile up big runs in the opening Test.
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