Steven Smith opened up about his back problem after a fine injury-returning knock of 71 runs in the second innings of the second Grenada Test against the West Indies. He didn’t participate in the first game of the series in Barbados after getting ruled out of the finger injury that he picked up at Lord’s during the WTC 2023-25 final against South Africa.

The former Australia captain reckoned that he was trying to bat on the middle stump and jam down the bat for the deliveries that kept low. He addressed that when the bounce wasn’t consistent, he could not trust the balls in the stump-line.

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“When I go across my stumps normally, that's when the bounce is pretty consistent and I can trust the balls aren't going to shoot (low). When the balls are shooting, I want to try and keep my bat as straight as possible and access that one as much as you can when it stays low.” The veteran expressed, as quoted by Cricket.com.au.

Steven Smith opens up on T20 fix to solve injured finger

It was an unfamiliar challenge for the experienced campaigner to bat wearing a splint on his right little finger after dislocation. He revealed that after the end of the game, the splint promoted another change, switching his T20 grip in Grenada. He was forced to use his top hand more than usual due to the heavy strapping.

“It was a little bit different (from normal) because I can't bend it really, it's stuck straight almost. But I felt good out there; I had to change a couple of things with my grip going from first innings to second innings with my finger, and it took me a little while to just get my placement.” Smith revealed. Reaching the half-century from 79 balls and finishing with a strike rate of nearly 60, the right-handed batter celebrated his sixth fastest innings of 50 or better since Jun 2020.

It will be incredibly important for him to continue the purple patch, with the top order lacking runs in a year of the home Ashes three months later. The third Jamaica Test of the series will be a new challenge for the star batter. It will also be Australia’s first day-night red-ball fixture abroad as the pink Dukes ball will have more challenge than the Kookaburra they use in the home Test matches. But he should be confident, having scored 199 in the first innings of the Test at that venue during the 2015 trip.

Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald is confident that star batter Steve Smith will be ready to play the second Test against the West Indies, starting on July 3. Smith missed the first match after hurting his finger in the World Test Championship Final against South Africa at Lord’s.

But he’s healing well and is already back to batting practice in New York. Captain Pat Cummins shared this good news, and McDonald also said Smith is likely to play. McDonald made it clear that Smith will bat at number four, and the rest of the batting line-up will be arranged around him.

THE RETURN OF STEVE SMITH ⏳

- Steve Smith is likely to play in the 2nd Test against West Indies. pic.twitter.com/cPmxnZM9uA

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 2, 2025

“We’re happy with him at number four. He’s been really good there over the last year. He can bat higher if we need, but at four he gives us stability. He’s one of our best ever batters, so we want to keep things settled around him,” McDonald said.

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In Smith’s absence, Josh Inglis filled in at number four in the first Test but didn’t do well, scoring only 5 and 12. Australia also left out Marnus Labuschagne after his struggles as an opener in the WTC Final. If Smith is fit, Inglis is expected to make way so that Australia can try to win the series at the National Cricket Stadium in St George’s, Grenada.

 Australia Playing XI

Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Steven Smith, Australia's batting wizard, had the press room in stitches as he took a moment to provide a funny and honest reflection on being dismissed on Day 1 of the 2025 World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa. After hitting a couple of boundaries against South Africa's part-time off-spinner Aiden Markram, Smith nicked one down the slope, which he says he is still trying to get his head around. When a reporter asked about lessons learned for the second innings, Smith's response was utterly Smith—witty, considered, and refreshingly human.

‎ "Don't nick the part-time off-spinner," Smith said, laughing and shaking his head again in disbelief at how he had been dismissed. "I don't know, down the slope, still trying to work how I've done that. But yeah, don't do that." His light-hearted view of the incident displayed Smith's ability to laugh at himself as he stood in front of the media and high stakes of a WTC Final. Smith is famous for finding a balance between humour and technical tips, and this press conference was no exception.

‎‎Looking ahead to the pitch for Day 2 Smith also provided a measured assessment: dry with different variable bounce. "Just play what is in front of us," he added and mentioned the key is to be adaptable. He thought that spin would become into play as the game moves on and the seam would eventually disappear. His analysis outlines the tactical astuteness that contributes to his status as one of the sharpest minds in cricket. 

Read More:  SA vs AUS WTC Final 2025 Day 1 Recap – Key performances and major highlights 

‎A Plan For Day Two

‎It wasn't long until Smith was focused on what Australia needed to do in their first session of the day. "Hopefully we can get a few early ones in the morning and sort of go through them," he said while outlining the ambition to attempt to dismantle South Africa's batting with a goal of a lead. The characteristics of the pitch having a variable bounce and seam movement was already been evident on day one and maybe a factor that could work in Australia's favour.

‎For Smith, batting in the second innings is an opportunity to redeem his earlier mistake. With his characteristic grit and a touch of humour, he aims to be the focal point of Australia's batting and lead them to victory in this riveting WTC Final.