Australia's Steve Smith has provided an update on the finger injury he sustained during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord's. The incident occurred on Day 3 when Smith, fielding in the slips, dropped a catch off South Africa captain Temba Bavuma. Smith was positioned closer to the batsman than usual, wearing a helmet due to the uneven bounce of the pitch. The ball, edged by Bavuma off Mitchell Starc's bowling, struck Smith's right little finger, causing a compound dislocation.
Smith was immediately taken to the hospital for X-rays and treatment. Initial assessments indicated that he wouldn't require surgery, which was a positive sign. Smith confirmed that his finger would be in a splint for eight weeks, but he hopes to potentially play with it in a couple of weeks. His participation in Australia's upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies is still uncertain. According to Cummins, the first test is maybe unlikely, and then they will go from there, but it's a bit early just to tell.
Smith explained that he was standing close to the batsman because many edges were falling short of the slip fielders. He admitted that the angle of Starc's bowling and the late dip of the ball made the catch particularly tricky. He was not up to speed in terms of how gruesome the injury was, according to Australian assistant coach Daniel Vettori.
Adding to the drama, Smith reflected on his complex relationship with Lord's Cricket Ground. While acknowledging the venue's wonderful atmosphere, he noted a series of unfortunate events he's experienced there. In 2019, he was struck on the head by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the Ashes Test. Now, in 2025, he suffered a finger injury. "I have a love/hate relationship with this place now," Smith stated. "I have had some good memories here and some not so good ones as well. Getting hit in the head by Jofra (Archer) in 2019 and now having my digit knocked off out here yesterday as well. But it's a wonderful place to play cricket and I have enjoyed it here and it was a real good game of cricket again."
Despite the loss and the injury, Smith became the first Australian to be part of two ICC final defeats. He was also part of the 2010 T20 World Cup against England.
Australia will monitor Smith's recovery closely as they prepare for the Test series against the West Indies. Captain Pat Cummins expressed gratitude that the quick turnaround allows the team to refocus after the WTC final defeat. The series presents an opportunity for Australia to start strong in the new WTC cycle.
