Australia’s star batter Steve Smith will travel with the team to the Caribbean for their upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies, despite suffering a serious finger injury during the World Test Championship (WTC) final.
Captain Pat Cummins confirmed on Saturday that Smith won’t require surgery for the compound dislocation to his right pinkie, sustained during the final at Lord’s. However, his availability for the first Test, scheduled to begin on June 25 in Barbados, remains uncertain.
“I’d say the first Test is probably unlikely, and we’ll assess from there,” Cummins said, adding that it’s still too early to make a definitive call.
Smith sustained the injury while fielding at first slip during a key moment in the final against South Africa. Positioned closer to the stumps than usual, he was struck on the finger by an edge off the bat of South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma. Smith dropped the catch, allowing Bavuma — then on 2 — to go on and score 66 runs, forming a match-winning partnership with Aiden Markram, who made 136.
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Although Smith is expected to recover from the injury in about two weeks, he will have to wear a splint for up to eight weeks — the duration of the Test series — meaning his participation depends on how well he can manage with it on.
The upcoming series marks the beginning of Australia’s 2025-27 WTC campaign. Following the disappointing five-wicket defeat to South Africa inside four days, Cummins said the team is eager to bounce back.
“It’s good we get to dust ourselves off and turn around in a couple of weeks and start focusing on the next challenge,” Cummins said. “That’s one of the good aspects of the WTC — every series, every Test, holds weight.”
Cummins emphasized the need to strike a balance between introducing fresh talent and maintaining a winning team, especially with an Ashes home series approaching in November. He hinted that some senior players may consider retirement afterward.
“This feels like a bit of a fresh start,” he noted. “We’re already thinking a couple of years ahead — if we make the next final, who will be part of the team? Should we start giving game time to new players now? Or stick with the current squad?”
Despite a strong personal performance — taking seven wickets and reaching 300 career Test wickets — Cummins admitted the team missed a golden chance to win back-to-back WTC titles.
He pointed to Australia’s 74-run first-innings lead as a missed opportunity to build a bigger advantage.
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“There were plenty of turning points,” Cummins said. “We had a lead, but we should have batted South Africa out of the game with a score well above 300. Unfortunately, we gave them a chance to come back, and now we’re left with a sense of missed opportunity.”