London: Steve Smith’s West Indies tour has been thrown into doubt after he was taken to hospital for x-rays on a compound dislocation to his right little finger.
Smith’s digit was left bent at a sickening angle after he dropped a sharp chance offered by Temba Bavuma on the third afternoon of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, having moved up very close to the bat at slip.
Australia’s Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field.Credit: AP
A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that Smith was set to be taken for scans on the badly damaged finger. The first Test against the West Indies in Barbados is scheduled for June 25, a little less than two weeks from now.
“Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon during the ICC Men’s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s,” A CA spokesperson said. “He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to hospital for x-rays and further treatment.”
Smith had also planned to make a brief trip to the United States to play for the Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket Twenty20 tournament between Test match assignments.
While a helmet protected Smith’s head, his hands were more vulnerable when an edge off Mitchell Starc flew very quickly to him at chest height.
Smith immediately knew he was in trouble, and appeared close to vomiting in pain and revulsion when he looked down to see the shape his finger was in.
Team medical staff were quickly onto the field to usher Smith back into the dressing room, where his finger was assessed and scans were called for.
Smith’s exit from the field was a blow for Australia as they tried to bowl out South Africa and claim back-to-back world titles, robbing captain Pat Cummins of a top class catcher and also a source of tactical advice.
It is also a wider concern given that Smith, 36, has recently returned to something like his best batting form following a few quiet years, with numerous other members of the top six struggling to make the runs required of them.
It’s the second compound dislocation that Australia have had to deal with this year. Left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann suffered a similar injury to the little finger on his right hand during the Big Bash League, and required emergency surgery to be able to play on the subsequent tour of Sri Lanka.
However, as a specialist spinner with fewer batting responsibilities, Kuhnemann was able to come back and play with remarkable speed. It remains to be seen whether Smith’s batting skills will require a more gradual return.
