Tim Paine, Australia Test skipper is confident that Steve Smith will play in the first Test at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide starting on December 17. On Tuesday, the former Aussie skipper trained for only 10 minutes before leaving the ground due to back soreness. He never looked comfortable while leaving the field.
Steve Smith some brilliant numbers against Team India across all the formats. He scored consecutive two tons in the three-match ODI series. Although, he failed in the recently concluded T20I series. But, he is expected to back at his best in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He has amassed 1429 runs in 17 Tests with the help of 7 hundred and two fifties. And, Austalia will be puzzled after getting the back soreness news of Steve Smith.
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Tim Paine Gives Update On Steve Smith
Tim Paine has come out giving an update on the fitness of Steve Smith. He said that David Warner is already not available. But, he is pretty sure that the number 1 Test batsman will feature in the 1st Test. He also feels that Smith has faced such problems in the past. But, he has always recovered from the same with strong will power.
He concluded by saying that it was a precautionary measure on the previous day. And, this might be a blessing in disguise for Steve Smith ahead of historic-pink-ball Test.
“Dave won’t be there but we expect Steve to be there. Steve’s had a stiff back a number of times before and you do when you bat at training as much as he does. But his preparation has been very good, he’s batted for the last week since we’ve been in Adelaide, so for him to have a day off might actually be a blessing in disguise yesterday,” Paine was quoted as saying in Cricbuzz.
“He’s played all the one-dayers. Once we got to Adelaide, he batted for four days straight so his preparation has been pretty good… very good actually. We expect him to play. He’s had a stiff back before.
“Yesterday was more precautionary; he’s in to train today, so we’ll see how he goes but yeah come tomorrow, whether he’s fit and sore in the back, or stiff in the back – I think he normally gets up, gets through it and finds a way to score runs like he always does,” Paine added.
India vs Australia 1st Test will begin at 9:30 am (IST). And, it will be played at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide.
