The Australia cricket team is set to embark on a crucial tour of South Africa, commencing with a riveting three-game T20I series scheduled to commence on August 30. Following the T20Is, a significant 5-match ODI series awaits, where both sides will be looking to fine-tune their squads in preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
However, the Australian team will face the Proteas side without the services of their star batter, Steve Smith. Originally, Smith was slated to open the batting in the T20I series, but his unavailability has led to a reshuffling of the batting order. Ashton Turner has been given the opportunity to step into the role that Smith was expected to play at the top of the order.
Moreover, Smith’s absence will also be felt in the 5-game ODI series against South Africa. This development opens the door for Marnus Labuschagne, who had recently been left out of the ODI setup. Labuschagne now has a golden opportunity to rejuvenate his ODI career and make a compelling case for himself in this format.
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“Geez, what have I done here”: Smith
The primary reason behind Smith’s absence is a tendon injury in his left wrist. This injury initially surfaced during the Ashes 2023 series, with its origins traced back to the second Test at Lord’s. It’s worth noting that despite carrying this injury, the Kogarah-born cricketer displayed immense resilience and skill by scoring a match-winning century during that Test. Nevertheless, the injury proved to be more persistent than expected and lingered throughout the remainder of the series.
During an interview with Fox Cricket, Smith revealed that he couldn’t precisely recall the exact moment when the injury occurred during the Lord’s Test.
“I did it at Lord’s. I don’t actually know the moment, it was when we were in the field. It wasn’t until that night I was like, ‘Geez, what have I done here, it’s a bit sore,” Smith said.
Smith’s determination was evident as he played through the pain during the final three fixtures of the 2023 Ashes series despite sustaining the wrist injury.
“I played the next game and then I had a cortisone before Old Trafford. I got back (to Australia) and I was like, ‘Still not quite right. I still can’t do a lot of things properly’. I had another scan. There was a small tear in the tendon as well as a couple of other things,” the 34-year-old concluded.
The 2023 Ashes series proved to be a highly engaging and closely contested affair, ultimately culminating in a 2-2 draw. While Australia managed to retain the urn, they missed the opportunity to capitalize on a 2-0 lead, and this series result ended their 21-year streak of not winning a Test series in England.
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