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Positive News For Australia! Steve Smith Avoids Surgery As Injury Not Serious

Abhinav Tyagi

Steve Smith with heavy  taping- (Source : AP)Steve Smith with heavy  taping- (Source : AP)

Australia have received positive news ahead of Day 4 of the WTC final, as their star batter Steve Smith has avoided surgery and his injury is not as serious as initially feared.

On Day 3, Smith, positioned at first slip, dislocated his finger while attempting a catch in the 20th over. A thick outside edge off Temba Bavuma’s bat struck Smith on his finger. The 35-year-old was in considerable pain and was immediately taken to hospital for scans.

Steve Smith Escapes Surgery

Initial reports suggested that Smith had suffered a dislocated finger and might require surgery. However, according to a recent report from Code Sports, the injury is less severe than first thought and Smith may not need surgery after all.

This means the right-handed batter could be fit in time for the upcoming West Indies tour. Following the WTC final, Australia will begin their campaign away from home with a three-match Test series against the West Indies starting on June 25.

While there is no official update on the full extent of Smith’s injury, the news that he will not require surgery is a major boost for the Baggy Greens.

Smith Shines in WTC Final

Fortunately for Australia, Smith had already completed his batting duties before sustaining the injury. The 35-year-old played a key role in the first innings, scoring 66 with 10 fours. However, he failed to make a big impact in the second innings, managing just 13 (25) with a single boundary.

Fans Compare Smith’s Dropped Catch to Gibbs’ Error in 1999 World Cup

Smith’s missed catch proved costly as Temba Bavuma went on to score 66 (134), including five fours. Fans have drawn parallels between this incident and Herschelle Gibbs’ dropped catch in the 1999 World Cup, which had significant consequences for South Africa.

Interestingly, on June 13—exactly 26 years after Gibbs dropped Steve Waugh, a mistake that contributed to South Africa’s exit from the tournament—Smith dropped a crucial catch that put Australia on the back foot in the ongoing WTC final