Steve Smith still in contention for West Indies tour after skipping surgery on dislocated finger

‌Former Australia captain and batter Steve Smith will be in a race to catch the Australian team flight for the tour West Indies later this month after avoiding surgery on his dislocated little finger in the right hand. Smith dropped a sharp chance from South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma at slips during the third day of the World Test Championship 2025 final at Lord’s injuring his finger in the process.

He was taken off the field immediately and rushed to the hospital for scans and also did not take the field on the fourth day when the Aussies lost the summit clash by five wickets. With scans indicating a dislocation, Smith had some good news as he avoided surgery on his injured finger. 

As per reports in ESPNcricinfo, the veteran batter’s injury was cleaned, and stitched and the finger was put in a splint which he will have to wear for eight weeks. He may be given the go-ahead if he can bat with the splint on but his fielding duties might be hindered.

Smith was only one among three Australian batters to have scored half-centuries in the marquee event and his injury adds to the woes of the already out-of-sorts top order. Australia will travel to the Caribbean for a three-Test and five-match T20I series with the first Test scheduled to start on June 25 in Bridgetown.

Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis are the other batters in the WTC squad that will also travel to the Windies and may replace Smith in the playing eleven. With Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne also out of form, the team management will have a tough time putting the best team on the park during the three-match series.

Smith, who captained Washington Freedom to their maiden Major League Cricket title last year, however, will now miss the league matches that he was scheduled to play for the franchise this season between the WTC 2025 final and the West Indies tour.