In June 2025, Australia will play their final series of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle before facing South Africa in the championship match at the Lord’s in London. Due to workload management issues, Pat Cummins, the regular captain, will not be playing in the two Test matches against Sri Lanka, which start on January 29. Star batsman Steven Smith was picked by Cricket Australia as the stand-in captain while Cummins was away.
However, the series’ leader in command of the island nation has already experienced a setback before it has even started. The Galle International Stadium in Galle will host both games of the two-match series, although Smith has already suffered an elbow injury.
It has been stated that the top hitter, who is now playing for the Sydney Sixers in the Big Bash League, had a near-elbow injury scare. The incident happened during the Sydney derby against the Thunders, and while the cricketer might not play in the series against Sri Lanka, the odds are slim.
Since this is not the first time Steven Smith has experienced elbow issues, he will be seeing a specialist as a precaution.
The results of his consultation will be used to decide Smith’s status for the red-ball series. To put it simply, Smith had to have surgery in 2019 after suffering a similar elbow issue.
The damage to Kuhnemann causes additional issues.
A thumb injury sustained during the BBL match against the Hobart Hurricanes necessitated surgery for left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, who is also playing in the series against the Lankan Lions. Nonetheless, since the incident occurred on the non-bowling arm, the board has stated that Kuhnemann will remain a part of the series until his surgical wounds heal.
He will stay in Australia as the wound from the surgery continues to heal. He is expected to start bowling again this week, with the goal of joining the team in Sri Lanka if he keeps improving, the CA had said.
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