ADELAIDE, Dec 15: 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 the team 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 batsman 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 ODIs at the SCG.
While Smith’s back problem was not seen as serious, it is the latest in a series of injury blows to the home team ahead of the Test series.
Australia have already been hit by multiple injuries, with David Warner (groin) and Will Pucovski (concussion) ruled out of the opening Test.
Promising all-rounder Cameron Green will make his Test debut against India here if he clears the concussion protocols, Australian coach Justin Langer said on Tuesday.
Green suffered a mild concussion after being hit on the head by a shot from Jasprit Bumrah in the pink ball warm-up match in Sydney. (Agencies)
