sydney
Former Australian opener David Warner has said that if Steve Smith is not fit for the Sri Lanka tour, Travis Head could be Australia’s new Test captain. Smith was injured during the Big Bash League (BBL). With Pat Cummins unavailable for the Sri Lanka tour due to the birth of his second child and an ankle injury, Steve Smith was made captain. But on Sunday, Cricket Australia said that Smith suffered a right elbow injury while fielding in a Big Bash League match on Friday.
Smith was seen wearing an elbow brace and has not yet joined Australia’s pre-tour camp at the ICC Academy in Dubai. If he is not fit for the first Test starting in Galle on January 29, then Travis Head, who was named vice-captain for the Sri Lanka tour, could become Australia’s 48th Test captain, according to Warner.
Warner told ‘The Australian’, “I don’t think he will say much. They will make changes when they feel right. He has been captaining South Australia for a long time and has a sensible mind.” He also said that if Smith is out of the entire tour, it will be a big blow for Australia. “If he is out of the Sri Lanka tour, it will be a loss, but I think he will be able to recover from it.”
The two-Test series between Sri Lanka and Australia will begin in Galle from January 29, and the second match will be played there on February 6. After this, two ODI matches will be played in Colombo on 12th and 14th February. It is noteworthy that the Australian cricket team has made it to the final of the World Test Championship for the first time. Australia defeated India 3-1 in the Border-Gavaskar series and made it to the final for the second consecutive time. Defending champions Australia will have to defeat South Africa to win their second consecutive Test Championship, reaching the final of the Test Championship for the first time.
