Steve Smith provides major health update ahead of Border-Gavaskar Trophy series vs India

Former Australia captain Steve Smith has provided an update regarding his injury ahe of upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (Test series) in India. Smith, who scored his second consecutive BBL century on Saturday, suffered a back spasm while training. He is likely to miss next game for Sydney Sixers against Hobart Hurricanes. Given that he is a significant part of Australian Test side, re were concerns regarding his availability for India tour. 

However, Smith has cleared air on his back spasm, saying that he is pretty certain he will be all right for Border-Gavaskar series against India. Australia are all set to travel to India for a four-match Test series starting February 9. Smith is expected to play a crucial role in contest given his impressive record with bat in subcontinent conditions. 

"I'm pretty certain we'll be all right. I just h some spasming this afternoon. I struggle to get upright. I can bend (forwards) all right but getting into an extension is not ideal. It probably helped me in my batting, kept me a bit lower. It's a bit stiff but hopefully I pull up okay," Smith was quoted as saying by Zero Wicket.

Australia will be hoping to win series this time around as y have not won Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India since 2004. Prior to 2004, Australia's last Test series triumph in India was in 1969. Since 2004, Australia and India have played 4 Test series in subcontinent, all of which have ended in defeat for Kangaroos. Apart from that, India have even managed to win last two red-ball series on Australian soil, rubbing more salt in ir wounds. 

India vs Australia, BGT Test series squs

Australia's squ: Pat Cummins (Captain), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Peter Handscomb, Travis He, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matw Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner. 

India’s Test squ for first two Tests against Australia: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), R. Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yav, Ravindra Jeja, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umesh Yav, Jaydev Unkat, Suryakumar Yav.

Note: Ravindra Jeja’s inclusion in squ is subject to fitness.

Image: AP