Steve Smith Poised for Grenada Test Return After Injury Layoff

Smith Set to Bolster Australia in Grenada Test

Steve Smith, the experienced Australian batter, is poised to rejoin the squad ahead of the second Test against the West Indies in Grenada. This comes after Australia's triumphant victory in the first Test in Barbados, which concluded within three days.

Steve Smith eyes return after recovering from a finger injury. © Getty

Captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Smith has resumed batting practice after recovering from the dislocated finger he sustained during the World Test Championship Final. Following the final, Smith traveled to New York to continue his rehabilitation, which resulted in him missing the first Test match.

Cummins commented on Smith's progress, stating, "He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball. I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. So we'll know more over the next few days."

The potential return of Smith could provide a significant boost to the Australian batting lineup. Despite their win, the top order struggled in the first Test, particularly in the absence of Marnus Labuschagne. In the first innings, they were reduced to 22/3, and in the second, they were 65/4.

Cummins acknowledged the challenges faced by the young batters, saying, "You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren't too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game. Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is when you get thrown different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective. That's the challenge for our young batting group."

The second Test match, a historic event as the first ever Test to be held in Grenada, is scheduled to commence on July 3rd.