Image Credit- Getty
Steven Smith’s availability to play for Australia
against Afghanistan in Mumbai tomorrow is in doubt. Vertigo has been a problem
for Smith, who stated on match eve that he was “not feeling great at
present” but was optimistic about his ability to play.
“I’ve had a bit of vertigo stuff the last day or
so, so it’s just been a bit annoying,” Smith said before training at the
Wankhede. “Hopefully I can get through training today and be all good.
But, yeah, it’s not a nice place to be. Occasionally, I’ve had a few episodes
[before], so I can tell you it’s not the funnest space to be in, but yeah, I’ll
go out and have a hit [in the nets] and hopefully be okay and we’ll see how we
go.”
When asked if the issue would put him in doubt for
Australia’s eighth game of the league stage with their semi-final berth still
not confirmed, Smith said: “No, I think I’ll be okay. Yeah, I’m not
feeling great at present but I’ll have a hit and see how we go so hopefully all
good.”
Smith batted in the nets shortly after the news
conference and at first showed no signs of discomfort. After taking a little
pause and shadow-batting behind the nets, he began by taking a few throwdowns
from the Australian support crew. In no time at all, he was back in the nets
with Glenn Maxwell, facing more throwdowns and showcasing his signature flicks
and drives. He unleashed some lofty drives while stepping down the track as
well.
Smith has previously discussed his vertigo problems.
Smith revealed that his recovery from a concussion he had sustained while
fielding against Sri Lanka in a Twenty20 International at the SCG last year was
complicated by a “vertigo incident” that he had also experienced.
Smith has been off to some beginnings in this World
Cup, but he hasn’t exactly been at his best in the first seven innings. He has
one half-century and 205 runs scored at an average of 29.28 per innings with a
strike average of just 86.13. Smith acknowledged that there were “a few
disappointing moments” in his performance.
“Yeah, it’s been a little bit disappointing at
times,” he said. “I’ve been in the middle of a few partnerships that
have helped build a foundation for sure, but yeah, definitely would have liked
to have gone on with it a little bit more. I’ve got in on some tricky surfaces,
obviously the first one against India was a tricky one, the South Africa one
where I felt like I was batting nicely – questionable sort of lbw and then got
a got a good one early I suppose against Sri Lanka.
“I was batting nicely against Netherlands and
then was batting reasonably the other day against England. So yeah, a couple of
starts where I would have liked to have gone on with it a little bit more, but
it wasn’t to be. But I still feel like I’m hitting the ball quite well, so
hopefully some runs at the back-end of the tournament.”