Steve Smith hurt during big moment in World Test final
Australia's best batter Steve Smith has dropped a crucial chance and injured his finger during South Africa's run chase of 282 in the World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have dismissed Proteas captain Temba Bavuma for only two on Friday.
South Africa went to tea on day three at 2-94, still requiring 188 to win, with Bavuma (11no) and opener Aiden Markram (49no) pressing the Proteas' claims of securing their first ICC trophy since 1998.
Bavuma himself needed medical attention on his hamstring before the end of the session after he'd got hurt sprinting a quick single, but batted on with a concerning limp.
Smith immediately left the field grimacing after injuring the little finger of his right hand while spilling the catch that would have put Australia in the box seat to claim back-to-back WTC titles.
Several edges during this Test - for both teams - have dropped well short of the slip cordon, forcing Smith to move forward.
Evergreen quick Starc (2-37) had claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up a potentially match-winning knock on Friday morning, before Smith's dropped catch.
Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's plucky lower-order batted for 119 minutes and added another 78 during a Test in which bowlers dominated the first two days.
No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch, caught in the deep to give part-time spinner Aiden Markram his second wicket of the Test.
Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43).
He faced more balls (136) than any other batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one.
It was the 11th half-century of Starc's 97-Test career, but could be his most significant innings.
If the match goes down to the wire, South Africa will be left to rue bowling 20 no balls during the Test.
Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time.
He took a five-for against England at the home of cricket back in 2022.
"It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch.
South Africa need to pull off the equal second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, with England running down 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
Back in 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 against England at the famous ground.
Australia, inspired by six wickets from Pat Cummins, rolled South Africa for 138 on Thursday.
But the reigning champions fell into deep trouble in their second innings when they collapsed with 5-29 during a frantic 45-minute period.
Victory in only the third edition of the WTC final would ensure Australia have landed four ICC trophies since November 2021.
Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Australia's best batter Steve Smith has dropped a crucial chance and injured his finger during South Africa's run chase of 282 in the World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have dismissed Proteas captain Temba Bavuma for only two on Friday.
South Africa went to tea on day three at 2-94, still requiring 188 to win, with Bavuma (11no) and opener Aiden Markram (49no) pressing the Proteas' claims of securing their first ICC trophy since 1998.
Bavuma himself needed medical attention on his hamstring before the end of the session after he'd got hurt sprinting a quick single, but batted on with a concerning limp.
Smith immediately left the field grimacing after injuring the little finger of his right hand while spilling the catch that would have put Australia in the box seat to claim back-to-back WTC titles.
Several edges during this Test - for both teams - have dropped well short of the slip cordon, forcing Smith to move forward.
Evergreen quick Starc (2-37) had claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up a potentially match-winning knock on Friday morning, before Smith's dropped catch.
Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's plucky lower-order batted for 119 minutes and added another 78 during a Test in which bowlers dominated the first two days.
No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch, caught in the deep to give part-time spinner Aiden Markram his second wicket of the Test.
Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43).
He faced more balls (136) than any other batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one.
It was the 11th half-century of Starc's 97-Test career, but could be his most significant innings.
If the match goes down to the wire, South Africa will be left to rue bowling 20 no balls during the Test.
Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time.
He took a five-for against England at the home of cricket back in 2022.
"It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch.
South Africa need to pull off the equal second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, with England running down 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
Back in 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 against England at the famous ground.
Australia, inspired by six wickets from Pat Cummins, rolled South Africa for 138 on Thursday.
But the reigning champions fell into deep trouble in their second innings when they collapsed with 5-29 during a frantic 45-minute period.
Victory in only the third edition of the WTC final would ensure Australia have landed four ICC trophies since November 2021.
Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Australia's best batter Steve Smith has dropped a crucial chance and injured his finger during South Africa's run chase of 282 in the World Test Championship final at Lord's.
Wearing a helmet while standing closer in slips than normal, the former Australia captain put down a regulation chance off Mitchell Starc that would have dismissed Proteas captain Temba Bavuma for only two on Friday.
South Africa went to tea on day three at 2-94, still requiring 188 to win, with Bavuma (11no) and opener Aiden Markram (49no) pressing the Proteas' claims of securing their first ICC trophy since 1998.
Bavuma himself needed medical attention on his hamstring before the end of the session after he'd got hurt sprinting a quick single, but batted on with a concerning limp.
Smith immediately left the field grimacing after injuring the little finger of his right hand while spilling the catch that would have put Australia in the box seat to claim back-to-back WTC titles.
Several edges during this Test - for both teams - have dropped well short of the slip cordon, forcing Smith to move forward.
Evergreen quick Starc (2-37) had claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up a potentially match-winning knock on Friday morning, before Smith's dropped catch.
Starting day three of their second innings 8-144, Australia's plucky lower-order batted for 119 minutes and added another 78 during a Test in which bowlers dominated the first two days.
No.11 Josh Hazlewood (17) hung in there for 53 balls and was the last player out on the stroke of lunch, caught in the deep to give part-time spinner Aiden Markram his second wicket of the Test.
Starc (58no), batting at No.9, finished as Australia's top-scorer of the innings ahead of wicketkeeper Alex Carey (43).
He faced more balls (136) than any other batter during an innings in this Test, even more than Steve Smith's 112 for his 66 on day one.
It was the 11th half-century of Starc's 97-Test career, but could be his most significant innings.
If the match goes down to the wire, South Africa will be left to rue bowling 20 no balls during the Test.
Star Proteas quick Kagiso Rabada (4-59) finished with match figures of 9-110 after he destroyed Australia with 5-51 in the first innings to put his name on the Lord's honour board for a second time.
He took a five-for against England at the home of cricket back in 2022.
"It would have been nice to get a 10-for, but I'd rather a win than a 10-for," Rabada said at lunch.
South Africa need to pull off the equal second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, with England running down 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
Back in 1984, West Indies, in their pomp, successfully chased 342 against England at the famous ground.
Australia, inspired by six wickets from Pat Cummins, rolled South Africa for 138 on Thursday.
But the reigning champions fell into deep trouble in their second innings when they collapsed with 5-29 during a frantic 45-minute period.
Victory in only the third edition of the WTC final would ensure Australia have landed four ICC trophies since November 2021.
Fourteen wickets tumbled on Thursday, after 14 had already fallen on a dramatic opening day.
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
8 minutes ago
- The Age
Test cricket LIVE: Australia vs South Africa day four from Lord's
6.48pm Smith's West Indies tour in doubt after finger left at sickening angle By Daniel Brettig 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. 6.47pm Good evening and welcome to day four By Jon Pierik Hello, and welcome to day four at Lord's. Following decades of falling agonisingly short of success, South Africa is on the cusp of a first major cricket triumph with 69 runs needed to win the World Test Championship final. Only four wickets were taken on day three – two each in the first two sessions before Aiden Markram (102 not out) and hobbled captain Temba Bavuma (65 not out) lifted the Proteas into a position of strength, batting through the entire evening session for an unbroken third-wicket stand of 143. It shapes as an exhilarating opening session tonight. Don't miss a moment of the action, as the Proteas attempt to dismiss ghosts of failure's past, while Australia look to conjure a morning miracle. 1.21pm England close to locking in next three Test championship finals English cricket is close to agreeing to host the next three world Test championship finals despite an attempt from India to stage the show-piece event. The world Test championship began in 2019 and has run three two-year cycles, all of which concluded with a final in England in June. India expressed an interest to stage the game in International Cricket Council meetings and there has been discussion about sharing hosting rights around the world. It is understood, however, that in recent days, officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board have been verbally informed of the ICC's intention to host the next three finals on these shores. It is expected that the decision will be rubber-stamped at the ICC's annual conference in Singapore next month, but the ECB is expected to begin planning the 2027 edition of the WTC final promptly after the current one, between Australia and South Africa, ends. The next cycle of the championship begins on Friday, June 20 with the first Test of England's five-match series against India. Despite mooted changes to two divisions, the WTC's structure will remain the same for this cycle as the last. With a vast population, wealth and an insatiable appetite for the game, India are the dominant force in world cricket. The ICC's Indian chairman Jay Shah has been at this year's final. Until November when he moved across to ICC, the 36-year-old son of Amit Shah, India's Minister of Home Affairs and a close ally of president Narendra Modi, was in charge of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Indian influence at ICC headquarters is expected to extend with the appointment of Sanjog Gupta, of broadcast giant Jiostar, as chief executive. The three finals so far have all been at different venues in England. In 2021, when COVID-19 protocols were still in place, the Utilita Bowl in Southampton hosted the game between New Zealand, who won, and India, because of its ability to house the players on site. In 2023, Australia beat India at the Kia Oval, which hosted in part because of sponsorship snags at Lord's, where the game has been played this week. History and prestige means Lord's will be the strong favourite to host the game again in 2027, but conversations over exactly where it is played remain at a nascent stage.
Sydney Morning Herald
8 minutes ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Test cricket LIVE: Australia vs South Africa day four from Lord's
6.48pm Smith's West Indies tour in doubt after finger left at sickening angle By Daniel Brettig 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. 6.47pm Good evening and welcome to day four By Jon Pierik Hello, and welcome to day four at Lord's. Following decades of falling agonisingly short of success, South Africa is on the cusp of a first major cricket triumph with 69 runs needed to win the World Test Championship final. Only four wickets were taken on day three – two each in the first two sessions before Aiden Markram (102 not out) and hobbled captain Temba Bavuma (65 not out) lifted the Proteas into a position of strength, batting through the entire evening session for an unbroken third-wicket stand of 143. It shapes as an exhilarating opening session tonight. Don't miss a moment of the action, as the Proteas attempt to dismiss ghosts of failure's past, while Australia look to conjure a morning miracle. 1.21pm England close to locking in next three Test championship finals English cricket is close to agreeing to host the next three world Test championship finals despite an attempt from India to stage the show-piece event. The world Test championship began in 2019 and has run three two-year cycles, all of which concluded with a final in England in June. India expressed an interest to stage the game in International Cricket Council meetings and there has been discussion about sharing hosting rights around the world. It is understood, however, that in recent days, officials from the England and Wales Cricket Board have been verbally informed of the ICC's intention to host the next three finals on these shores. It is expected that the decision will be rubber-stamped at the ICC's annual conference in Singapore next month, but the ECB is expected to begin planning the 2027 edition of the WTC final promptly after the current one, between Australia and South Africa, ends. The next cycle of the championship begins on Friday, June 20 with the first Test of England's five-match series against India. Despite mooted changes to two divisions, the WTC's structure will remain the same for this cycle as the last. With a vast population, wealth and an insatiable appetite for the game, India are the dominant force in world cricket. The ICC's Indian chairman Jay Shah has been at this year's final. Until November when he moved across to ICC, the 36-year-old son of Amit Shah, India's Minister of Home Affairs and a close ally of president Narendra Modi, was in charge of the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The Indian influence at ICC headquarters is expected to extend with the appointment of Sanjog Gupta, of broadcast giant Jiostar, as chief executive. The three finals so far have all been at different venues in England. In 2021, when COVID-19 protocols were still in place, the Utilita Bowl in Southampton hosted the game between New Zealand, who won, and India, because of its ability to house the players on site. In 2023, Australia beat India at the Kia Oval, which hosted in part because of sponsorship snags at Lord's, where the game has been played this week. History and prestige means Lord's will be the strong favourite to host the game again in 2027, but conversations over exactly where it is played remain at a nascent stage.
Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
- Daily Telegraph
Australia v South Africa World Test Championship: live day four scores
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cricket. Followed categories will be added to My News. Australia is eyeing early wickets to pull off a World Test Championship final boilover as play resumes on day four at Lord's. South Africa is in command at 213-2 in their second innings, needing just 69 runs to win, with eight wickets still standing. 'The hope for us is we need to get a wicket or two in the morning and see what that looks like,' Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori said. 'But (needing) 8-69 is a real challenge for the group. 'There was some optimism (after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood half century stand set up the 282 target) but it's obviously going to be a real challenge tomorrow.' Aiden Markram's superb century has left South Africa on the brink of a dramatic victory after decades of heartbreak in major tournaments. Opener Markram, dismissed for a duck in the first innings, was 102 not out and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma unbeaten on 65 despite spending most of his innings limping with a hamstring injury. The pair have shared an unbroken stand of 143 as South Africa pursue what will be, if they achieve it, the second-highest successful run chase in a Test at Lord's. Originally published as Australia v South Africa World Test Championship Final Day 4 Live Scores
