Australia plunged in further despair with Smith finger injury following a dropped catch at slip off Bavuma.
Australia plunged into further uncertainty and despair as Steve Smith walks out due to finger injury.
On the third day of the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, Steven Smith suffered a compound dislocation of the little finger on his right hand, making him a major doubt for the upcoming tour of the West Indies. With a rare loss in a tournament decider looming, Australia was left wondering if they would have to replace over 10,000 runs.
Smith was hurt when he missed a good opportunity from Temba Bavuma on two. Mitchell Starc was nudged to first slip by the South Africa captain, who was standing so close to Smith that he was wearing a helmet.
Before the medical personnel could reach him, Smith began to flee the pitch in excruciating pain after realising he was in trouble.
“He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to the hospital for X-rays and further treatment,” a CA spokesperson said.
The dropped catch was a crucial moment in the day because, had it been held, South Africa would have been 76 for 3 chasing 282, but Bavuma battled through a hamstring strain to finish the match undefeated at 65.
In their ten global final appearances since 1996, Australia’s men have only lost once, against England in the 2010 T20 World Cup. However, unless South Africa collapses spectacularly on Saturday, they will give up the trophy.
“We understand the magnitude of the task, that 8 for 70 or whatever it is, is incredibly tricky and conditions would have to go away,” assistant coach Daniel Vettori said. “I think with the nature of where the ball is at and the surface, it’s a difficult task, but it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them five, six, even longer years.”