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Steve Smith Shares Massive Update On His Finger Injury Ahead Of West Indies Tour

Soumyajit Dutta

Steve Smith shares massive update on injury [Source: @cricadda07/X]Steve Smith shares massive update on injury [Source: @cricadda07/X]

Australia's Steve Smith has provided an update on the finger injury sustained during the World Test Championship final loss to South Africa at Lord's. On day three, Smith suffered a compound dislocation to his right little finger while fielding in the slips attempting a catch off Temba Bavuma's edge, requiring a hospital visit.

While Australia didn't have a sweet memory as South Africa bagged the WTC trophy, Steve Smith's update brings a beacon of hope in the Aussie camp.

Will Steve Smith Feature In Australia's Tour Of West Indies?

Despite needing a splint for eight weeks, the 36-year-old batting star remains hopeful of featuring in Australia's upcoming three-Test tour of the West Indies starting June 25. Initial assessments suggest he might be able to play sooner depending on his recovery.

"I will be in a splint for eight weeks now, and I may be able to play with it in a couple of weeks. It will depend on my functionality and what I am able to do, so it was probably the best result I could have hoped for," Smith revealed after Australia's five-wicket defeat.

The dropped catch proved pivotal. Bavuma, then on just two, capitalised on the reprieve to score 66 runs, forming a crucial match-winning partnership with Aiden Markram. Speaking to ICC, Smith explained the difficult circumstances of the chance, standing close with a helmet due to uneven bounce.

"I was standing pretty close with the helmet on, and as we saw throughout the game, a lot of nicks went short of first and second slip. The plan was to stand pretty close, and I lost sight of it with the angle that Mitchell Starc was bowling, and it kind of went inside Bavuma's hip," Smith said.

"I didn't quite see it until really late and it kind of dipped on me a little bit late too as well. It was tricky, it didn't go in my hand very well, and fortunately, there is no break there, and it just split the skin and dislocated it, which made me feel pretty ill at that stage," he added.

Meanwhile, South Africa's 27-year long wait finally ended at Lord's on June 14 as they lifted the WTC mace with pride. Aiden Markram, after his all-round show with both the at and the ball was awarded the Man of the Match, whose gritty century turned the tide in South Africa's favour.