Steven Smith will not lead Australia in New Zealand © Cricket Australia
Australia’s captain Steven Smith is out of the Chappell-Hadlee series in New Zealand after suffering an ankle injury in the final ODI against Pakistan.
Smith’s injury will mean a hurried discussion for the national selectors and Cricket Australia board directors over who will lead the side in New Zealand – the vice-captain David Warner has already been rested from the tour in order to prepare more fully for the looming Test series in India.
“It was decided an hour ago that I’ve been ruled out of the New Zealand series,” Smith told reporters in Adelaide. “I’ve got a medial ligament injury to my left ankle, they think it’s a 7-10 day injury and I wouldn’t be fit for the first game, I’d be very unlikely for the second game and a possible for the third game. We’ve got a lot coming up so they think it’s an opportunity to rest it and be right for India.
“It’s a bit of a shock. I just landed really awkwardly on my foot and I felt something straight away. I was a little bit concerned, I’ve never really injured my ankle like that. I was in a bit of pain last night, I injured it and went off and got it strapped and looked at and was in a reasonable amount of pain in the field.”
Despite the painful nature of the injury, Smith was confident he would be fit to depart for Australia’s Dubai training camp ahead of the India tour.
“I was struggling a bit after the game last night, and it was about seeing how I woke up this morning and I woke up in a reasonable amount of pain again,” he said. “They think it’s just a medial ligament sprain but I’m having an MRI this afternoon to see if there’s any more damage. I’m confident I’ll be fine to train in Dubai after that and for the first Test in India.”
The first match of the New Zealand ODI series is in Auckland on Monday.
Daniel Brettig is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @danbrettig
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Source: ESPN Crickinfo