XtraTime Web Desk: Rajasthan Royals face real concerns as their captain Steve Smith was forced to stay away from playing the deciding third and final ODI against England at Old Trafford on Wednesday. This was the third successive ODI matches that Steve missed in the ongoing series after showing concussion symptoms following a net session on eve of deciding match.
It was assumed that the former Australian captain will take the field in the deciding match after he had net sessions on Tuesday. Australian Coach Justin Langer kept his fingers crossed and expected Smith to be match fit after following all precautionary measures for concussion protocol.
Australia captain Aaron Finch said Smith had not pulled up well from a long net session on match eve.
“He copped a knock before the first game and he had a really good long hit yesterday but just didn’t pull up all that well,” Finch told Sky Sports at the toss.
“He was a little bit groggy and just wasn’t 100 per cent so like any time you’re dealing with a head injury or anything like that you want to be ultra conservative and cautious, so yeah, he’s going to miss again.”
Smith’s exclusion means Marcus Stoinis, who had made 43 and 9 batting at No.3 in the first two ODIs, retains his position as Australia fielded an unchanged XI.
Australia had won the opening match by 19 runs, before a shocking batting collapse of 7-32 resulted in them losing game two by 24 runs.