‘Will be fine, just a little grumbly’ - Australia batter Steve Smith gears up for West Indies series despite self-inflicted injury

Australia are to cross swords with the West Indies in a forthcoming two-match Test series scheduled to commence on November 30, Wednesday. Steve Smith, who is a part of the Aussies' red-ball contingent for the same expressed that he is gearing up for the series despite enduring a self-inflicted hip niggle.

Smith, in an optional training session, hit a nerve in the lower back with Pso-Rite, a ‘U-shaped’ device used by athletes to help loosen their psoas (lower back) muscles that run from the lumbar spine to the groin. Despite the same, the right-hander confirmed that he will be ‘okay’ and stated that he feels good.

"It was me being just silly to be honest. I was hitting myself in the psoas, trying to loosen that up and I got a little low and I hit a little nerve or something. My hip is a little bit grumbly, but all will be fine. For me where I’ve got to right now (technically) is like the ultimate for me,” said Smith.

“I feel like I don’t have to work as hard to access the off-side with my body and my hands. I can just play with a nice flow. It was a slight change, but it just felt easier and I felt like I had a lot more time in different areas of my game. It just feels really good,” the batter added.

Australia lock horns with West Indies

Following the series win against the newly-crowned T20 World Cup champions England in the 50-over format, the Aussies gear up for their next assignment against the West Indies. Smith will look to make the most of the Test series and get the consistency back in his game.

Ahead of the forthcoming Test series, the Pat Cummins-led side holds on to a narrow lead at the top of the World Test Championship (WTC) standings with 84 points. Clinching the West Indies series will hand the Aussies a major boost in terms of their lead on the points table.