WTC Final: Daniel Vettori provides update on Steve Smith's injury; Aussie batter taken to hospital
Steve Smith dislocated his finger during a catch attempt in the World Test Championship final. (AP)
Australia cricketer Steve Smith's participation in the upcoming West Indies Test tour is uncertain after he suffered a compound dislocation of his finger during the World Test Championship final at Lord's on day three, following a dropped catch off South African captain Temba Bavuma's edge.
Smith was immediately taken to the hospital
after the injury occurred while fielding at slip position, where he was standing closer than usual due to the slow nature of the Lord's pitch and wearing a helmet.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
The dropped catch came off Mitchell Starc's bowling when Bavuma was on two runs, with the South African captain going on to score 65 more runs by the end of play, partnering with Aiden Markram who remained unbeaten on 102.
The injury occurred when Smith attempted to catch an edge, resulting in a painful blow to his right little finger that caused him to immediately leave the field grimacing.
Bold prediction! Astrologer Greenstone Lobo picks winner of Australia vs South Africa WTC Final 2025
The 36-year-old was first assessed in the Lord's medical rooms before being transported to hospital for X-rays and additional treatment.
Medical experts indicate that a compound dislocation, where bone breaks through the skin, might require surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Concentrated Siberian Ginseng Extract 2oz
Superior Ginseng
Undo
"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," said Assistant coach
Daniel Vettori
. "So we weren't really up to speed in terms of how gruesome the injury was, we just heard that 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."
Australia's Steve Smith reacts after getting hurt while fielding on day three of the World Test Championship final. (AP Photo)
The potential absence of Smith for the three-Test series against the West Indies, starting June 25 in Barbados, would be significant as he has scored four centuries in his last six Tests.
The West Indies tour includes three Test matches, with the first match scheduled in Barbados, followed by games in Grenada and Jamaica.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
How South Africa's coach trained players to finally shed the chockers tag by winning the WTC title vs Australia
For decades, South African cricket has battled a painful reputation—of faltering when it matters most. The label of 'chokers' haunted generations, from early World Cup exits to painful collapses in critical games. But that narrative took a historic turn when South Africa, under head coach Shukri Conrad, clinched the World Test Championship (WTC) title with a resolute victory over Australia. The transformation didn't happen overnight. It was a process rooted in mental toughness, self-belief, and calmness under pressure—key attributes Conrad instilled in his squad. A Mindset Shift Under Conrad As per The turning point in South Africa's mental fortitude came in December, during a nerve-wracking run chase against Pakistan. At 19 for 3 chasing 148, the team was on the brink once again. But Conrad, rather than panic, delivered a straightforward message: 'Do you want to be remembered as chokers?' That blunt but necessary intervention sparked a turnaround. South Africa scraped through with a two-wicket win—a win Conrad jokingly labeled the 'Camel classic,' a nod to the calming cigarette break he shared with players mid-crisis. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 20 Most Expensive Cars In The World That message of staying composed stayed with the team through their WTC campaign. It resurfaced on the eve of the final days of the WTC final against Australia, where South Africa found themselves in a dominant position at Lord's—yet acutely aware of how easily things had fallen apart in the past. Focused on the Moment, Not the Outcome Ashwell Prince, South Africa's batting coach, credited Conrad's calm demeanor for the serene atmosphere in the dressing room during tense phases. Prince recalled how Conrad instructed players to stick to their routines: do the same warm-ups, approach the day as any other, and don't let the magnitude of the occasion overwhelm them. "The messaging has been the same throughout," Prince noted. "Make them believe that they can do it, and then just step out the way and allow them to go and do it." The emphasis was always on staying present—'play one ball at a time,' as Prince described the batting philosophy. Despite facing an Australian side stacked with elite bowlers, South Africa never let the past dictate the present. History Was Watching—But South Africa Looked Ahead Lord's has seen its share of final heartbreaks, and for South Africa, ghosts of past failures loomed large. From the infamous Test loss in 1992 against the West Indies to the heartbreak in the T20 World Cup final in 2023, the fear of history repeating itself was real. Yet the team made a conscious decision not to look too far ahead. Prince even hesitated to discuss Temba Bavuma's heroic innings before the match ended, aware that even the smallest assumption could tempt fate. Still, the signs were positive. From the steady partnership between Bavuma and Aiden Markram to Rabada's dominant bowling across the match, South Africa appeared to be writing a different ending. A Victory That Went Beyond the Scorecard Even before the final moments, South Africa's campaign had won admiration. They reached the final despite criticism over the perceived ease of their fixtures. But as Prince pointed out, the players were made aware of their own quality, not the noise outside. Conrad made it a priority to build confidence internally, not react to external doubts. "There was no talk about proving anybody wrong," Prince emphasized. The focus was on performance, not validation. In defeating Australia, South Africa didn't just win a title—they dismantled a decades-old narrative. The 'chokers' tag wasn't erased with one win, but it was undoubtedly challenged in the most emphatic way. And at the heart of that shift was a coach who believed in calm over chaos, and players who finally began to believe in themselves.
Time of India
32 minutes ago
- Time of India
'I know what my job is when the season starts': Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill beats Micah Parsons in Florida race but fans ask if football is still his priority
Miami Dolphin's Tyreek Hill beats Micah Parsons in Florida race but fans ask if football is still his priority (Image via Getty) One of the quickest players in the NFL, Tyreek Hill is well renowned. Fans enjoy seeing him run and score. But recently, it's not his football plays that people are talking about. It's his off-field speed that's getting more attention. This week, a 100-meter race between Tyreek Hill and another NFL star went viral. Some fans thought it was fun. Others were not so happy. They feel Tyreek Hill is spending too much time racing and not enough on the game. So, what really happened? And why are people upset? Tyreek Hill and Micah Parsons raced in Florida, but fans want the focus back on football On June 11, 2025, Tyreek Hill, the Miami Dolphins wide receiver from Miami, Florida, ran 100 meters against Micah Parsons, linebacker with the Dallas Cowboys. This was part of an all-day fundraiser for athletes around the world. A big crowd was there. Many journalists came to report on it as well. Hill dashed very quickly. Ten point six two seconds was his closing time. Micah Parsons struggled to maintain pace. Hill won the race easily. Videos of the race went viral online. They were posted on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Many fans called the race fun to watch. After the race, Tyreek Hill shared a post and called himself the 'fastest man in the NFL.' by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo But not everyone liked it. Some fans said Tyreek Hill should be getting ready for the season, not running races. The Miami Dolphins have an important 2025 season coming up. Fans want wins, not videos. They feel Tyreek Hill should be focused on football now, not side shows. Tyreek Hill says it's fun, but coaches and fans have a different opinion After the race, Tyreek Hill spoke to CBS Sports. He said, 'It's all just fun. I know what my job is when the season starts.' But many fans online didn't agree. One wrote, 'Cool race, but I hope he runs like that in the playoffs.' Another said, 'Enough racing, more practicing.' Even the Miami Dolphins' head coach, Mike McDaniel, gave his thoughts. In a press conference on June 12, he said, 'I love that he enjoys competition, but our focus is football first.' Now, as the new NFL season gets closer, fans are watching closely. Will Tyreek Hill turn his speed into touchdowns or just more TikToks? Also Read: Tyreek Hill Reignites Super Bowl Chemistry With Willie Gay Jr. After Chiefs Snub LB For Nick Bolton Deal
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Best innings ever by a South African': Kevin Pietersen hails Aiden Markram's Lord's epic as Proteas lift WTC crown
Aiden Markram (AP Photo) Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen has hailed Aiden Markram 's match-winning century against Australia at Lord's as the greatest innings ever played by a South African batter in Test cricket, placing the Proteas opener's gritty knock above all others in the country's long red-ball history. Markram scored a sublime 136 off 207 balls in the fourth innings to help South Africa chase down 282 and beat Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final — ending their 27-year-long wait for an ICC title. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! "Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket," Pietersen, a pundit on JioStar, declared. "It might not go down as the most attacking or entertaining, but when you factor in the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary." Poll Which aspect of Markram's innings do you think was most impressive? Mental strength under pressure Technical skill Ability to handle expectations Praising Markram's mental strength, Pietersen added, "He lost Rickelton early, yet still went on to produce something truly magnificent. When your country is counting on you and you have to deliver — that pressure is immense." Lobo Predicted It, Again: South Africa's Historic WTC Win vs Australia Pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada , who took a nine-wicket match haul, called Markram a "big-match player" and praised his composure under pressure. "His presence, the way he dominated his space, and stuck to his game plan without wavering was just brilliant," Rabada said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "It wasn't a pitch where you could be loose. He handled all their plans, traps — off-side, leg-side — with amazing focus." Former fast bowler Dale Steyn also lavished praise on the team's performance. "Rabada, Starc, Cummins — big names delivered, but Markram and Bavuma finishing it off made it special. I'm thrilled for South Africa — they've finally won a trophy they've been chasing for a long time." He also noted the unusual crowd dynamics: "Lord's backed us. Maybe the Ashes rivalry played a part, but that support mattered."
