Melbourne , December 14 : Australia coach Darren Lehmann has hinted Steve Smith could be rested for some of the limited-overs matches with India. Knee and hip problems may sideline Steve Smith for some of Australia’s limited-overs games in the new year.
Smith has been struggling with knee and hip injuries for quite some time , but is unlikely to miss any of the Test series with West Indies – which Australia lead 1-0 – he could be reduced to spectator in limited-overs contests in the coming months.
Lehmann’s men have five one-day internationals and three Twenty20s with India in January before taking on New Zealand in three ODIs and two Tests and then South Africa in three T20s ahead of the ICC World Twenty20 in March.
“He [Smith] keeps telling me he is 26 but [in the first Test with the Windies] he was running as though he is 36,” Lehmann said. “The pressure of captaincy is quite large.
“We have to look at that but we get a decent break now with two weeks off. He is not playing BBL [Big Bash League] so he gets a good break.
“The ODIs are important to us and then the T20 World Cup so I can’t see him getting a break until the end of the summer, unless we play really well or the niggles get worse.
“I’m no medical expert but [rest] is what they are saying. They will say what he can or can’t do and if I disagree with it he plays and if I don’t he might not play.”