Steve Smith who is all set to lead Australia in the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka has copped up an elbow injury and now his participation is hanging in the balance.
Smith who has a history of elbow injuries, injured his right arm while throwing in the field for Sydney Sixers in their washed-out match against Sydney Thunder on Friday.
The injury has further delayed Smith's departure to Sri Lanka with Cricket Australia coming up with a statement on his fitness. The board said that he is expected to be fit by the time the first Test starts.
The 35-year-old, who lit up the BBL in his two innings between Test commitments with scores of 121no and 52, is believed to be visiting a specialist in Sydney on Tuesday with the results of that consultation to dictate when he joins the Test squad.
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Smith's current injury has further worsened Australia's injury woes. Steve Smith is all set to lead Australia, with Pat Cummins out on paternity leave from this series. Apart from his paternity leave, Cummins has been ruled out from the tour of Sri Lanka owing to increased soreness in his left ankle.
Steve Smith Scored 314 Runs In BGT
Steve Smith just played in the Test series against India where he ended up scoring 314 runs in the five-Test match series. He scored two centuries in the series and another in the ongoing BBL season hinting that he is in good form with the bat.
Cricket Australia in their statement on the Australian skipper said that they are keeping a keen eye on Cummins' fitness with the Champions Trophy starting next month. Both Smith and Cummins have been named in Australia's Champions Trophy squad.
Matt Kuhnemann, the Australian left-arm spinner is also recovering from a fractured thumb that he picked up while playing in the Big Bash League earlier this week.
"He will remain in Australia while the surgical wound heals further," CA said. "He is planned to resume bowling this week with a view to joining the squad in Sri Lanka if he continues to progress well."
Australia have already made it to the WTC final having won the Test series against India. Thus this Test series against Sri Lanka is inconclusive for the previous WTC winners who are eyeing their second such title. Australia play both their Test matches in Galle followed by two ODIs in Colombo.
Australia Squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Sri Lanka Test series vs Australia Schedule
January 29 to February 2 - Galle
February 6 to February 10 - Galle
