AUS vs IND: Injury concerns grow as Steve Smith leaves training with sore back

Steve Smith was among Australia’s notable absentees in Tuesday morning’s practice session at the Adelaide Oval ahead of the opening Test against India. Smith is reportedly suffering from a sore back. The day-night Test begins on Thursday (December 17).

According to a report in The Sydney Morning Herald, a struggling Smith injured his back while reaching for the ball on Tuesday. He was also late to the practice session and didn’t bat at all. Instead, Smith went through the routine warm-ups before gingerly walking off the field 10 minutes later with the physio. Smith’s back injury adds to the already existing mountain of injury concerns for Australia ahead of their busy Test summer.

The Aussies have already lost their premier opener, David Warner, to an adductor injury in the ODI series. Earlier, young Will Pucovski was ruled out of the first Test owing to a concussion he suffered in the warm-up match. Another player, Cameron Green, was also hit in the head in the practice game against the visitors. Coach Justin Langer confirmed that Green could well be in line to make his Test debut if he clears the fitness test in time.

With injuries mounting, Smith’s presence at No.4 will be all the more important for the Australians, who were without him the last time India toured in 2018-19. The batsman is still slated to return to training on Wednesday but an injury scare definitely jolts the Australian camp.