Steve Smith confirms injury but declares availability for Sri Lanka Tests

Australia National Cricket Team stand-in skipper Steve Smith has provided a massive update about his fitness ahead of the first Test match against Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. He said that he won't be able to throw the ball because of his elbow and is expecting one of his teammates to run along with him when the ball goes to the boundary.

Australia National Cricket Team is all set to lock horns with Sri Lanka National Cricket in the two-match Test series. The opening game of the series is all set to be played on 29th January at the Galle International Stadium in Galle.

Steve Smith will be captaining Australia National Cricket Team in the absence of Pat Cummins against Sri Lanka

Steve Smith will be captaining Australia National Cricket Team in the series in the absence of Pat Cummins and would be keen to take his team to win. There were a lot of concerns over his fitness ahead of the series because of the elbow injury that he sustained during the Big Bash League while playing for Sydney Sixers.

Steve Smith got injured on the same elbow on which he underwent surgery in 2019. But in what was a positive development for the team, the batter was declared fit by the medical team, and after seeing a specialist, he joined the team's training camp in Dubai ahead of the series.

If I have to chase one to the boundary, hopefully, one of my mates comes with me - Steve Smith

Even though Steve Smith has been declared fit, the batter isn't 100% fit. He said that although he won't need any strapping to protect his elbow, he won't be able to throw the ball. He added that he would be standing in the slips all the time. Speaking to reporters ahead of 1st Test, he said:

"Fortunately, this part of the world I'll be parked in the slips for the entire time. If I have to chase one to the boundary, hopefully, one of my mates comes with me."

We'll have another look at the wicket, and from there, we'll name the team at the toss - Steve Smith on Australian XI

Smith also talked about the Australia playing XI for the first Test against Sri Lanka. He said that they would be taking the call after the toss. He elaborated:

"We'll have another look at the wicket, and from there, we'll name the team at the toss. We've got all the options available to us. We'll see how we go,"

Smith will be a key member of the Australia National Cricket Team in the Test series against the Sri Lanka National Cricket Team. It's fair to say that he is one of the best batters of spin in the team and he will have to bring his best if his team has to win the series.

Australia National Cricket Team has already qualified for the final of the ICC World Test Championship. They achieved the feat after they beat India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by the margin of 3-1.

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