The photos that sent shockwaves through the Aussie cricket side: Steve Smith suffers shock setback at training just before first Ashes Test
- Steve Smith copped a blow to his hand at training
- Sat out of the rest of the session as a precaution
- In 2019 Ashes, Smith scored 774 runs, average of 110.57
Steve Smith has sent shockwaves through the Aussie camp after injuring himself at training ahead of the first Ashes Test.
The 34-year-old took a blow to the finger while batting in the nets, with the blow leaving him in some pain and needing treatment.
Smith once again looms as the key wicket for the hosts when the Ashes series starts at Edgbaston on Friday.
In 2019, Smith put the English bowlers to the sword with a century in each innings in the first Test at Birmingham and went on to score 774 runs at an average of 110.57 in the series, his first following his one-year ball-tampering ban.
As the England attack tried a variety of ways to get him out, Smith’s final innings of the series was the only occasion he didn’t reach at least 80.
Australian batsman Steve Smith gets his finger examined after copping a blow during a net session on Wednesday
The blow left the superstar batter grimacing in pain – and will have raised English fans’ hopes
Veteran English quick James Anderson said they wouldn’t over plan for Smith this time, but captain Ben Stokes suggested he’ll go through his full range of tricks against him.
Smith said he felt ready for anything.
‘Think we’ve seen the last few months that they do some funky things and they are going to have to try some different things at certain times,’ he said.
‘One of my big strengths is being able to adapt on the go and understand what they are trying to do and sort of solve the problem out in the middle. I’ll just focus on my game and try and counter each thing they come at me with, but we are expecting some different stuff, that’s for sure.
‘I won’t really change too much, it’s about understanding situations, knowing when I can press a bit more and put a bit more pressure on and knowing when I need to absorb pressure and rein it back in a bit. It’s something I’ve done for 10 years and I don’t see any need to change it.’
Smith is also riding the confidence that comes with having both succeeded in England, and found form of late, averaging 62.46 in Tests since the tour of Sri Lanka.
Smith, 34, once again looms as the key wicket for the hosts when the first Ashes Test starts at Edgbaston on Friday
In 2019, Smith put the English bowlers to the sword with a century in each innings in the first Test at Birmingham and went on to score 774 runs at an average of 110.57 in the series
He also got an early look at both local conditions and English quick Ollie Robinson during a short county cricket stint with Sussex, which has left Smith positive about what is to come across five Tests.
His mindset of continual improvement is also set to ensure he could be in for another big series.
‘I hope I’m better. I strive every day to be better,’ Smith said.
‘It was obviously a good series for me last time here and I’d love to replicate something similar and help us lift the urn at the end, but we’ll wait and see.
‘My Ashes series before that back home was reasonable as well. I’ve had a couple of good ones, it’d be nice to repeat it again.’
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