Steve Smith Eyeing Grenada Test Return After Finger Injury Layoff

Steve Smith said he hasn’t felt any pain and has recovered well from the finger injury he sustained during the World Test Championship 2023-25 final against South Africa at Lord’s. The veteran dislocated his finger while attempting a catch in the slips during the summit clash and was subsequently taken to the hospital for treatment.

Although he didn’t require surgery, Smith missed the opening Test against the West Indies, which Australia won by 159 runs at the Kensington Oval to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. However, the 36-year-old sounded confident about returning for the second Test, scheduled to begin on July 3 at the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s, Grenada.

"For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think," Smith was quoted as saying by ICC.

"I don't really feel any pain or anything. (It's) just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine.”

Smith, however, might not field in the slip cordon given his recent injury. But he’s unlikely to face issues while batting.

"Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me, I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg, is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip."

If Smith plays, Josh Inglis is likely to sit out after scoring only five and 12 in the opening Test. Smith has an exceptional Test record against the West Indies, having notched 872 runs at an average of 124.57 with three hundreds and as many fifties.