Steve Smith gives shocking update on availability for Sri Lanka Tests

Australia batter Steve Smith has opened up on his reaction when he hurt his elbow during the Big Bash League 2024-25 game between Sydney Sixers and Sydney Thunder. After he suffered the pain, Smith feared it could turn out to be a big one but was fortunate not to have done too much damage.

Smith is Australia's stand-in captain for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka. Being one of the best batters in his line-up, he will be crucial to his team's chances in the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka.

After he suffered the injury during the washed-out BBL game while playing for Sydney Sixers, he was afraid of having done big damage to his elbow. He immediately felt the pain when he was throwing a ball during the match.

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Steve Smith opens up on elbow injury in BBL

While speaking on his injury scare, Steve Smith opened up on his previous injury in 2019 that caused significant damage to his ligament. However, he was relieved to know that it was just muscle damage, and no damage had been done to the ligament.

"Straight away I thought 'oh jeez, that hurt'. That was a similar sort of feeling to when I ruptured my ligament back in 2019, so I was a little bit worried for a little bit," Smith said.

"But scans showed fortunately my ligament is still intact, the one that I got repaired. I've got a little bit of muscle damage, and it's a small millimeter of the ligament on the bone that's doing something," he added.

The injury might have been due to a blow on his shoulder from fast bowler Jhye Richardson in the initial phase of the BBL. The injury had left his right shoulder bruised and forced him to change his technique of throwing.

Smith further made it clear that he is able to bat despite the muscle damage and is fully available for the upcoming Test series. The 35-year-old is likely to bat at his favoured No. 4 slot in the batting order.

"In terms of batting I'm pretty comfortable I'll be able to get into it and play with some tape on it," Smith revealed.

Steve Smith to lead in the absence of Pat Cummins

In the absence of Pat Cummins, Steve Smith will lead Australia in the Test series against Sri Lanka. Cummins has decided to skip the series as he is on a paternity leave. While his loss will be a significant blow to Australia, Smith is an experienced and a capable captain.

He has a terrific record as a Test cricketer and a brilliant player of spin as well. He will begin the Test series against Sri Lanka with 9999 runs in 114 Tests, averaging 55.86 with 34 hundreds and 41 fifties.

Steve Smith in Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25

Steve Smith was in poor form before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but played a key role in Australia regaining the title after ten years. The right-hander scored 314 runs in five Tests at an average of 34.88 with two hundreds to his name.

Although Steve Smith has been cleared to play in the upcoming Sri Lanka series, he might have to be careful with his throwing. But he is likely to field closer to the batters in the spin-friendly wickets of Sri Lanka where throwing might not be an issue.