Ankle injury rules skipper Steve Smith out of Chappell-Hadlee series

Australian skipper Steve Smith has been ruled out of the upcoming Chappell-Hadlee series with an unfortunate ankle injury. While this certainly comes as somewhat of a setback for the skipper in the grand scheme of things, the injury is certainly expected to heal within the next 7-10 days.

In hs absence, two players who would be expected to take over would certainly be Travis Head or perhaps Matthew Wade. However, should the Australia selectors go ahead with a traditional approach, Aaron Finch will be one to take over as the skipper for the upcoming series. Smith went on to add that there would be little or no problem with the selectors finding a replacement for him.

“There’s still guys around the group that has leadership capabilities,” Smith told reporters at Adelaide Airport on Friday. “The selection panel will get together in the next couple of hours and have a clearer plan from there.”

“Every series is important and I would have loved to have been in New Zealand,” Smith said. “I feel like I’m batting really well at the moment so when I’m batting well I want to keep going so it’s disappointing … but obviously, we have got pretty big fish to fry shortly in India.”

Speaking further about his injury, Smith went on to add that he had landed awkwardly on his foot and also went on to add that a week of rest should do the trick. “I just landed really awkwardly on my foot and I felt something straight away,” he said. “I went off and got it strapped and looked at, but was in a reasonable amount of pain in the field. I woke up in a reasonable amount of pain again.”

“They think in seven to 10 days I will be back to almost normal, that is their thoughts at present,” he said. “I have only got to listen to the medical staff and see where things go from there but they’re confident that everything will be okay from Dubai and into India as well.”

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