Australian middle-order batter Smith Smith has disclosed that he played in the last three Tests of the Ashes with damage to his left wrist tendon.
The injury, which will keep the former skipper out of the Tour of South Africa and replaced by Ashton Turner, is a worrying sight for Australia, considering the ODI World Cup is coming up in India.
However, the 34-year-old is reportedly in no doubt for the nation's ODI campaign and will likely place in the opening game against India, as well as the three-game series with India in the lead-up to the tournament.
Speaking to the AAP on his injury, Steve Smith believes he injured himself while fielding in the deep at Lord's on the final day of the second test. Before seeking further scans on the injury, he would go onto bat in another six innings and play the next three Test matches.
"I must have just landed awkwardly," Steve Smith told the AAP.
"It was quite painful at Headingley (for the third Test). Even in the lead in, I didn't hit that much in the nets. I was just trying to find a way to hold the bat that wasn't painful.
"After that, some shots I played, cross-bat and back-foot punching I was sore. Trying to decelerate the bat was hard, or defending sometimes was sore. But it wasn't awful."
"Maybe it did (impact me), I'm not sure. "I was a bit disappointed with my batting. I got a few starts but just didn't kick on to get a big score," Smith added.
"I felt really good in the first innings (of the fifth Test) at The Oval, I probably hit the trigger a bit early. But until that point I didn't feel as if I was going to get out.
"Even in the second innings I felt good there. But I just didn't capitalise on a few starts as much as I would have liked."
T20s v South Africa
August 30: First T20I, Durban (August 31, 2am AEST)
September 1: Second T20I, Durban (September 2, 2am AEST)
September 3: Third T20I, Durban, September 3, 10pm AEST
Australia T20 squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matt Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Adam Zampa
2023 Qantas ODIs v South Africa
September 7: First ODI, Bloemfontein (D/N), 9pm AEST
September 9: Second ODI, Bloemfontein (D/N), 9pm AEST
September 12: Third ODI, Potchefstroom (D/N), 9pm AEST
September 15: Fourth ODI, Centurion (D/N), 9pm AEST
September 17: Fifth ODI, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST
Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa
