SYDNEY: Senior Australian batsman Steve Smith is expected to make a full recovery within a week and be available for the Pakistan tour next month. Smith, who has a history of injury, hit his head hard on the SCG turf in an audacious attempt to block a six near the boundary rope in the second T20I against Sri Lanka, which Australia won in the Super Over on Sunday.
His concussion diagnosis was confirmed late on Sunday and Cricket Australia (CA) said the 32-year-old would be subject to “low-level protocols” in the coming days before an anticipated recovery within this week. “(Smith) will be subject to a low level protocol for the next few days and a full recovery in 6-7 days,” CA said in a statement.
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The right-handed star batsman has already been ruled out for the remaining three matches of the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. CA has not named anyone in place of Smith in the Australian team. Smith has enough time to recover for the Pakistan tour which begins with a Test on March 4.
There was much concern when Smith fell near the boundary line after his brilliant but unsuccessful fielding effort as Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell signaled for immediate medical attention. Smith was back on his feet after a long time and asked whether the umpires had hit a six. He was seen walking around dressing and chatting with teammates after Australia’s win at the end of a dramatic Super Over.
Smith later tweeted, “Thanks everyone for reaching out. My head is feeling better, but I’ll be fine.”
The fresh scare isn’t the first time Smith has been hurt. It was his third injury in two and a half years. He was ruled out of the Ashes Test at Lord’s against England in 2019 – the first such case – after falling off a Jofra Archer delivery.
Smith also played a white-ball series while batting in the Old Trafford practice nets in England in 2020. He also revealed last summer that he almost missed an ODI against India in which he scored a match-winning century after suffering from dizziness and vomiting due to the formation of tiny crystals known as ‘ear rocks’ Was.
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“It didn’t look great,” said Smith’s teammate Matthew Wade. cricket.com.au, “I think he hit the ground very hard. Whether he got lights out or not, I’m not 100 percent sure. Only he can answer that.”
Pacer Josh Hazlewood said, “When someone dives and doesn’t get up straight, there’s always a little bit of worry. It’s nice to see him turn around and walk off the field now.”
The incident with Smith happened after Will Pucovsky suffered the latest injury during a warm-up accident in Victoria’s Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with the South Australian in Adelaide.
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