Australia vs India: Australian Skipper Tim Paine hints at Steve Smith inclusion despite “Stiff Back”.
Australia vs India Test Series: Australian skipper Tim Paine closed down all the concerns over Steve Smith’s sore back ahead of the first test. Steve Smith complaint of a sore back during the first training session on Tuesday.
Tim Paine on Wednesday during the video conference cleared the news regarding the star batsman’s injuries. Paine said Smith’s no-show was a precautionary step and the Smith will be out there on Thursday.
Tim Paine on Steve Smith:
“His preparation has been very good, he’s batted for the last week since we’ve been in Adelaide. So for him getting a day off might actually be a blessing in disguise,” Paine on Smith.
“He complaint of stiff back before, Yesterday was more precautionary.”
“He will be in to train today, so we’ll see how he goes. But come tomorrow, whether he is fit or sore in the back, he normally gets up with it and finds a way to score big and that’s how it is.”
Australian squad has been injury-prone in the recent series. With star opener, David Warner getting “Groin Injury” while his replacement Will Pucovski suffering a concussion. Both the openers will not be part of the first test game.
Cameron Green to debut:
However, the young all-rounder Cameron Green will get to taste Test Cricket. Earlier, he also suffered a concussion but how he managed to recover quickly is commendable.
“Green trained really well with us yesterday and reports are he’s pulled up really well this morning, so all things going well Cameron Green will make his test debut tomorrow,” said Tim Paine.
With Cameron Green making it to the final side, it is almost certain that Matthew Wade will be elevated to the openers.
It is yet to be seen whether he will replace Joe Burns, who had a horrible summer with just 62 runs in the last nine first-class games, or Marcus Harris who has been called in as the replacement of Will Pucovski.
“Obviously his build-up, in terms of runs, hasn’t been great but if you look at the work he’s done solely in Test cricket for this team, it’s been very, very good,” Paine said of Burns.
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