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Steve Smith ready to give up on playing World T20 to be fit for Ashes

Former Australia captain Steve Smith who is recovering from an elbow injury has said that playing Test cricket is his priority and could skip the World T20 which is now scheduled to take place in UAE and Oman later this year. 

“There’s still a bit of time between now and (the World Cup), and I’m tracking okay at the moment – it’s slow, but I’m going okay,” Smith told cricket.com.au on Friday.

Australia will host England for Ashes later this year and Smith is focusing on playing the series. 

“I’d love to be part of the World Cup, for sure. But from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s my main goal – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last few Ashes series I’ve been involved in,” Smith said.

“I want to put myself in a position where I can have that kind of impact,” he further said.

“If that does mean not partaking in the World Cup, then we’ll have to go down that path, but hopefully we don’t have to go there,” Smith added. 

The right-handed batsman had earlier opted out of the West Indies tour where the Aussie team will play five T20Is and three ODIs against the Caribbean side. 

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