Smith's West Indies tour in doubt after finger left at sickening angle
London: Steve Smith's West Indies tour has been thrown into doubt after he was taken to hospital for x-rays on a compound dislocation to his right little finger.
Smith's digit was left bent at a sickening angle after he dropped a sharp chance offered by Temba Bavuma on the third afternoon of the World Test Championship final at Lord's, having moved up very close to the bat at slip.
A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that Smith was set to be taken for scans on the badly damaged finger. The first Test against the West Indies in Barbados is scheduled for June 25, a little less than two weeks from now.
'Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon during the ICC Men's World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's,' A CA spokesperson said.
'He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to hospital for x-rays and further treatment.'
Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori told reporters during a press conference that Smith was taken straight to hospital following the incident and didn't even make it to the change rooms.
'We were not up to speed in terms of how gruesome the injury was,' he said. 'We will just wait to see what comes out once he gets back from the hospital.'
Smith had also planned to make a brief trip to the United States to play for the Washington Freedom in the Major League Cricket Twenty20 tournament between Test match assignments.
While a helmet protected Smith's head, his hands were more vulnerable when an edge off Mitchell Starc flew very quickly to him at chest height.
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