'Really bad': Cricket world rocked by Steve Smith moment as Aussie hopes crushed
Australia's hopes of defending their World Test Championship (WTC) title look all but over, with Steve Smith's "gruesome" finger injury compounding the pain at Lord's. An epic century from Aidan Markram on day three put South Africa on the cusp of victory after a defiant 10th-wicket stand from Aussie quicks Mitchell Starc (58 not out) and Josh Hazlewood (17) helped the Aussies reach 207 - setting the Proteas a 282-run target to clinch victory.
But chasing the equal second-highest successful run chase in Test history at Lord's, Markram (102no) shared in an unbroken 143-run stand with hobbling captain Temba Bavuma (65no) to take the match away from the Aussies and reach stumps on 2-213. It means South Africa will start day four on Saturday needing just 69 runs with eight wickets in hand to seal a famous win.
A day that started so brightly for the Aussies with Starc and Hazlewood's defiant last-wicket stand, soon turned sour as Smith left the field and had to be taken to hospital. The Aussie star dropped a regulation chance off Starc that would have dismissed Proteas captain Bavuma for just two, as the ball crashed into his right little finger in the slips.
Smith was in obvious distress out in the middle and left the ground to have scans at hospital, where it was revealed he suffered a compound fracture to the finger. In a major blow for Australia's immediate and long-term prospects, the injury means Smith could be forced to miss Australia's upcoming tour of the West Indies, which could see Sam Konstas return to opener and the under-fire Marnus Labuschagne earn a reprieve and move back into his preferred No.3 role.
Thinking about how much worse, then worst thing happened....After a long wait, I get💔💔💔💔#SteveSmith #WTCFinal #WTC25 #WTC2025 #WtcFinal2025 . pic.twitter.com/3F3zBho3OW
— Iqra (@Iqra87685226) June 13, 2025
🚨 𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐕𝐄 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐈𝐍𝐉𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 🚨- Steve Smith has dislocated the little finger of his right hand. 💔- Smith left the field in extreme pain 😢 The injury looked really bad - Get well soon Smith. 🙏❤️🩹#WtcFinal2025 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/dbaPIjpyYd
— Pratyush Halder (@pratyush_no7) June 13, 2025
🚨Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his little finger🚨- He is now doubtful for the tour of West Indies (ESPNCricinfo)#WTCFinal #SAvsAUS #WtcFinal2025 #AidenMarkram pic.twitter.com/mCzlQyLW6N
— Cricketism (@MidnightMusinng) June 13, 2025
Wouldn't be surprised if Steve Smith misses at least the start of the West Indies tour. A very nasty injury.#WTCFinal pic.twitter.com/l58xL3yRkN
— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) June 13, 2025
Australia's last defeat in an ICC final came back in 2010 when they lost to England in the T20 World Cup decider. Since then, Australia have won two ODI World Cups (2015 and 2023), a T20 trophy, and the 2023 WTC decider against India at The Oval. But barring a miracle or some extremely advantageous weather conditions for the start of day four, the Aussies look all but certain to let that impressive record slip.
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Markram led the way for the Proteas with a sublime century that leaves them on the cusp of a stunning 41-year first. No team since the Windies in 1984 has completed a successful chase at Lord's where where the fourth innings target is higher than any of the previous innings totals. Markram's eighth Test century - and only his second outside of South Africa - has him poised to become a true Proteas hero.
South Africa's one and only senior ICC title came back in 1998 when they lifted the Champions Trophy. Since then, they have endured numerous painful misses in the latter stages of ODI and T20 World Cups, often against Australia. But the complexion of the WTCF final changed completely once Smith put down Bavuma on two.
Veteran quick Starc (2-53) claimed both of South Africa's second-innings scalps, backing up his vital knock with Hazlewood in the opening session. The Aussies will now be praying for overcast skies and early wickets on day four, but haven't given up hope of an improbable victory.
"We understand the magnitude of the task," Australia assistant coach Daniel Vettori said, refusing to give up on the seeming 'mission impossible'. "But it is a task that the group has probably done at times throughout the last three, four, some of them, five, six, even longer years.
"There's an appreciation of how well Bavuma and Markram have batted to put all that pressure back on us. To get one of them (before stumps) may have given us that optimism. It's going to be a real challenge on Saturday." If South Africa create history, it would equal the second-highest successful chase in a Test at Lord's, tied with England's 282 against New Zealand back in 2004.
with AAP
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