Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc will not be participating in the upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa due to injuries, Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday, August 18. This news came as a significant blow to the Australian team, as both players have been key contributors in past matches. Smith was revealed to be nursing a tendon injury in his left wrist.
This injury is expected to sideline him for up to four weeks. Despite this setback, Smith is anticipated to be fully fit for the ODI World Cup in India. Smith’s absence from the South Africa tour will provide an opportunity for Marnus Labuschagne to join the squad for the 50-over games against South Africa.
Labuschagne was initially snubbed from the 18-member squad for the ODI World Cup and the batter now finds himself in the mix for a look in for the tournament if he can find form during the tour. Ashton Turner will be replacing Smith in the T20I squad. The star batter was expected to open the batting during the T20I series against the Proteas.
Starc has been experiencing groin soreness since returning from the UK where he played the WTC final and four of the five Ashes Tests. His absence will allow Spencer Johnson to remain on for the ODI leg of the tour and potentially make his international debut in both white-ball formats.
Mitch Marsh is set to take over the captaincy for both white-ball formats against the Proteas. The Australian team is expected to adopt a conservative approach to the build-up to the World Cup, with the priority being the fitness and availability of key players like Smith and Starc for the Indian ODI series and the World Cup warm-up fixture.
“The compacted Ashes series and the World Test Championship was a heavy load for the group, and we are taking a conservative approach to the build-up to the World Cup,” national selection panel chair George Bailey said today.
“With the World Cup the priority of the squad, it was determined on advice that it was best for Steve and Mitchell to join the group in India by which time we expect them to be fully fit and available for the Indian ODI series, plus the World Cup warm-up fixture.”
Australia will take on South Africa in a three-match T20I series from August 30 to September 3 and the five ODI matches will start from September 7 and go all the way till September 17.
