Smith Set for Grenada Test Return After Injury Layoff

After a dominant victory in the opening Test in Barbados, Australia may see a further boost with Steve Smith expected to rejoin the squad before the second Test match in Grenada.

Steve Smith missed the opening Test after dislocating a finger during the WTC final © Getty

Pat Cummins, the Australian captain, has confirmed that Smith has resumed practicing his batting after recovering from a dislocated finger sustained during the World Test Championship Final. Following the final, Smith traveled to New York to continue his rehabilitation, causing him to miss the first Test against the West Indies.

Cummins commented, "He's had a few hits over in New York, which I think was with a tennis ball and an incredi-ball. I think his wound is looking good, so the next stage is to come over here and hit some balls in the nets. So we'll know more over the next few days."

The absence of Smith, along with Marnus Labuschagne being dropped, led to struggles for Australia's top order in the first Test, despite their ultimate victory. They were reduced to 22/3 in the first innings and 65/4 in the second. However, Cummins emphasized the team's commitment to supporting their young batsmen.

Cummins noted the challenging nature of the wicket, stating, "You saw today how tricky a wicket that was, there weren't too many 50-run partnerships throughout the whole game. Of course, the top order would like to score some more runs. The challenge of Test cricket, especially for young players, is when you get thrown different conditions, you've got to find a way to be effective. That's the challenge for our young batting group."

The second Test match, a historic first for Grenada, is scheduled to commence on July 3.