Smith Eyes Grenada Test Return After Injury Layoff

Smith Poised for Potential Return in Grenada Test

Steve Smith, the experienced Australian batter, is in contention to rejoin the squad for the second Test against the West Indies in Grenada. The match is scheduled to begin on July 3.

Australia secured a convincing victory in the first Test in Barbados, wrapping up the match inside three days. The potential inclusion of Smith would further bolster their lineup.

Steve Smith sidelined after finger injury during WTC final © Getty

Smith had been sidelined after dislocating a finger during the World Test Championship Final. He subsequently returned to New York to undergo rehabilitation, forcing him to miss the first Test against the West Indies.

According to Captain Pat Cummins, Smith has resumed batting practice. Cummins shared this update after his team's victory, stating: "He's had a few hits over in New York...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 Australian top order struggled in the first Test, particularly in the absence of Smith. In the first innings, they found themselves at 22/3, and in the second, all four top-order batsmen were dismissed with only 65 runs on the board. This occurred despite Marnus Labuschagne being dropped from the lineup. However, Cummins expressed confidence in the team's young batters.

Cummins acknowledged the challenging batting conditions in the first Test, stating, "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."

He further emphasized the challenge for young players in adapting to diverse conditions, saying, "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 will be historic as it marks the first-ever Test match played in Grenada.