Smith Set for Second Test Comeback After Unique Baseball Cage Recovery

Steven Smith is eyeing a return to the Australian lineup for the second Test against the West Indies, having utilized an unconventional training method to accelerate his recovery from a dislocated finger.

Smith missed the opening Test of the series. © Getty

The Australian batsman employed a baseball batting cage in New York to rehabilitate his injured finger. This involved facing tennis balls, soft balls, and ultimately, cricket balls within the enclosure. The controlled environment, with temperatures mirroring those expected in the Caribbean, proved instrumental in assessing his hand's readiness.

"Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage," Smith revealed. "It was ideal because it was pretty warm, like 36 degrees Celsius, so it was good to be in the shade. My mate actually told me about it and he was able to throw me a few balls there."

Smith's injury, a compound dislocation of his right little finger, occurred during the World Test Championship final against South Africa. This forced him to miss the first Test match in Barbados, where he spent his time recuperating in his New York apartment.

Now 36, Smith reports that his finger feels significantly improved. He anticipates participating fully in training sessions in Grenada.

"Everything felt good... I just got my stitches out and I've got a smaller splint on now, so it'll be easier getting my hand in the glove," Smith explained. "I don't really feel any pain or anything. [It's] just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine."

The enforced downtime in Barbados proved challenging for Smith. "I was honestly just bored here," he confessed. "I couldn't do anything, I couldn't sweat, and I was sort of stuck in the room doing nothing. I've got the apartment four-and-a-half hours away. Dani was back there, the dogs were there... so I went back to sit in the air conditioning and watch the boys play."

While a final confirmation hinges on his performance during Tuesday's training session, Smith is already mentally preparing for potential changes in his fielding positions.

"Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me. I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either mid-on, mid-off or fine leg, a bit different to standing at second or first slip."