Adelaide: In a major departure from his usual routine, Australia’s premier batsman Steve Smith on Tuesday missed the net session due to a sore back, giving another major injury scare to hosts, prior to first Test against India, beginning on Thursday.
Smith warmed up for 10 minutes with his squad mates on Adelaide Oval as they completed a series of stretching exercises and running drills, but as the group broke for their now traditional session of touch football the former captain headed to the dressing room in some discomfort.
On his way to the dressing room, Smith was accompanied by team physiotherapist David Beakley, and when he failed to appear as the team headed to the adjoining nets, it was reported he was receiving a “back rub”.
“As the session continued and his fellow top-order batters undertook lengthy stints in the nets in his absence, it was revealed Smith was suffering from lower-back soreness and would not be training,” according to cricket.com.au.
However, a team spokesman said the 31-year-old was not believed to be in doubt for the first Test and was expected to bat during a nets session on Wednesday.
Smith was in stellar form during the recent ODI and T20 Series against India, scoring consecutive 62-ball centuries in the international season-opening one-dayers at the SCG.
While Smith’s back problem was not seen as serious, it continues a string of injury setbacks to have struck players involved in Australia and Australia A fixtures since the men’s international summer began last month.
Marcus Stoinis (side), David Warner (adductor), Ashton Agar (calf and finger), Mitch Starc (back and ribs), Josh Hazlewood (back), Aaron Finch (glute), Moises Henriques (hamstring), Will Pucovski (concussion), Cameron Green (concussion), Jackson Bird (calf), Harry Conway (concussion) and Sean Abbott (calf) have all been sidelined at some stage over that period. (UNI)