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Australia‘s Steve Smith endured a painful blow on Day 3 of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final at Lord’s, after suffering a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slips. The 36-year-old had to leave the field immediately following the incident, casting serious doubt over his involvement in the remainder of the match.
Steve Smith’s injury occurs during critical moment in play
The incident took place during South Africa’s second innings when Mitchell Starc induced an edge from Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma. Smith, positioned closer than usual due to the slow nature of the pitch and wearing a helmet, attempted a low catch at slip but ended up injuring his finger in the process. Bavuma was on just two runs at the time but went on to score 67.
Smith was seen grimacing in pain as he walked off the field, clearly unable to continue. The extent of the injury was evident from the immediate reaction of teammates and support staff. After preliminary assessment in the medical room at Lord’s, Smith was taken to hospital for X-rays and further evaluation. A compound dislocation, where the bone pierces the skin, is considered a serious injury that may require surgical intervention.
Daniel Vettori provides update on Smith’s injury scare
Australia’s assistant coach Daniel Vettori addressed the media following the incident, providing a brief but concerning update. Vettori said that after Smith got injured, he didn’t return to the team’s dressing room because the medical team immediately took him to a separate room to assess and treat the injury. The team only heard secondhand that it might be a compound fracture or dislocation, but they weren’t given a clear diagnosis at that moment. The injury sounded so severe that most players didn’t even want to go look at it. Vettori concludes by saying they’re now waiting for official confirmation from the hospital about the extent of the injury before knowing what happens next.
“He never made (it to) us (in) the dressing room. The doctor and physio got him and took him into the separate room to deal with it. We just heard there was a fear of the compound fracture or dislocation or something of that nature. There weren’t too many people running to the physio room to go and have a look. We’ll just wait and see what comes back after he gets back from hospital,” said Vettori as quoted by TOI.
With no official update yet on Smith’s recovery timeline, his availability for the rest of the WTC final remains uncertain. The team management is awaiting medical reports before making a decision on whether he can take further part in the match. Until then, Australia may be forced to continue without one of their most experienced campaigners in the field and with the bat.
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