Steve Smith has officially joined Australia’s squad for the T20 World Cup, taking the place of injured paceman Josh Hazlewood. This decision was made public on Monday as the team prepares for their upcoming match.
Smith was brought to Sri Lanka to provide cover for opener Mitchell Marsh, who sustained a testicular injury during a training session in Colombo. As a result, Marsh will miss the first two matches of the tournament.
On Sunday, Smith participated in training with the team in Kandy, getting ready for the game against co-hosts Sri Lanka later that day. His inclusion comes amid concerns regarding the fitness of both Marsh and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis.
Selector Tony Dodemaide noted that any adjustments to the squad must be submitted at least one day prior to a match. He emphasized that having Smith available was sensible given the uncertainty surrounding Marsh and Stoinis.
Despite his impressive performances in Australia’s Big Bash League, Smith was not initially selected for the World Cup squad. Hazlewood’s absence is due to ongoing recovery from Achilles and hamstring injuries, which ultimately led selectors to seek Smith as a replacement.