WTC 2025 Final [WATCH]: Steve Smith walks off with finger injury after dropping Temba Bavuma early on Day 3 at Lord’s | SA vs AUS

ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s between Australia and South Africa has so far lived up to its billing, delivering high drama, tension, and moments that could define careers. On June 11, 2025, Day 3 of this much-anticipated clash saw a turning point, not just for the match but potentially for Australian cricket, as Steve Smith, one of the game’s finest slip fielders, left the field in pain after a dropped catch and a suspected finger injury.

Injury scare for Australia as Steve Smith exits field with hurt finger after Temba Bavuma drop

With South Africa chasing a challenging 282 for victory, every chance was crucial. The moment arrived in the 20th over of South Africa’s second innings, with Mitchell Starc bowling to Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma. Starc, operating around the wicket, induced a thick edge as Bavuma tried to punch a back-of-length delivery through mid-on. The ball flew quickly to Smith at slip, who, standing unusually close due to the low bounce at Lord’s, was wearing a helmet for protection.

Despite his reputation for safe hands, having taken 200 Test catches, Smith was caught off guard. The ball arrived at chest height, slightly to his right, and with his weight moving left, he couldn’t react in time. The ball struck his fingers hard and dropped to the turf. The immediate concern, however, was not the missed opportunity, but Smith’s visible agony. He removed his helmet, clutched his right hand, and walked off the field, biting his hand in pain as the physios rushed to assist him. Early indications suggest a possible dislocation or fracture, a worrying sign for Australia with a Test series in the West Indies looming.

Here’s the video:

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South Africa eye historic chase as Australia’s concerns leave WTC 2025 final on a knife’s edge

Smith’s exit added to the tension of an already finely poised contest. At tea on Day 3, South Africa had reached 94/2 in pursuit of 282, with Aiden Markram unbeaten on 49 and Bavuma, the beneficiary of Smith’s drop, still at the crease. The Proteas need 188 more runs with eight wickets in hand, and the run rate hovering just below four per over. Earlier, Australia’s second innings had been propped up by Starc’s gritty 58 not out, setting South Africa a tricky target after both sides struggled to post big totals. Kagiso Rabada’s incisive bowling (4/59 in the second innings) kept the Australians in check, while Pat Cummins’ six-wicket haul in the first innings gave Australia a crucial advantage. Yet, Smith’s injury could prove pivotal. Not only does it weaken Australia’s slip cordon, but it also removes a key  leader in the field at a critical juncture. The match, already a seesaw battle, now hangs even more delicately, one moment of brilliance or one lapse could decide the fate of the WTC mace.

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