Australia have dealt with a major blow a day before the Ashes Test battle gets on display as their batting juggernaut Steve Smith has given an injury scare through team's camp. During Australia's nets session ahead of the Ashes 2023 first Test, Smith picked up an finger injury. It has been learnt that while batting Smith was struck on his finger following which he had to stop his practice. Moments later he was spotted in pain while sitting on a chair when the medical team was examining the extent of Smith's finger injury.
Notably, the Ashes 2023 series is slated to kick start from June 16 as the first Test between Australia and England will be played at Edgbaston.
Although the extent of Smith's injury is yet to be fathomed but it will be a massive blow for Australia if Smith sits out of the first Test. In the latest Test batting rankings released by ICC, Smith has surged to second place behind teammate Marnus Labuschagne.
Smith also whacked a brilliant century (121) in the WTC final against India and which came handy for Australia who downed Rohit Sharma's brigade by 209 runs in the ultimate drama. Smith also boasts of a stunning batting average of 60.04 in Tests and Australia will hope their batting maestro to feature in the playing XI against England, who are gearing up to avenge their humiliation in the previous edition of the Ashes.
Notably, Australia have never won an Ashes series in England as their best result on English soil came out in 2019 when they drew the series. In the same series Smith notched 774 runs in four Tests with a magnificent average of 110.
Ashes 2023 schedule
1st Test, Friday June 16-Tuesday June 20: , Edgbaston
2nd Test, Wednesday June 28-Sunday July 2, Lord’s
3rd Test, Thursday July 6-Monday July 10, Headingley
4th Test, Wednesday July 19-Sunday July 23, Emirates Old Trafford
5th Test, Thursday July 27-Monday 31, The Kia Oval
Australia squad for first two Tests: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marcus Harris, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vice-captain), Mitchell Starc, David Warner.
England squad for first two Ashes Tests: Ben Stokes (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
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