XtraTime Web Desk: Good news for Australia camp as their former captain Steve Smith is set to return to their batting line-up for the second ODI against England on Sunday after passing his second concussion test in Manchester.
Smith was a late withdrawal from Friday’s series opener after copping a head knock in the nets on match eve and was replaced in the No.3 spot by Marcus Stoinis, who impressed with a promising innings 43 from 34 deliveries on a difficult new-ball wicket.
The Australian camp said on Saturday that the move to rest Smith was a precautionary measure and the star right-hander has passed two concussion tests since copping the blow on Friday.
“I think it was a good decision in the end,” allrounder Mitch Marsh said about Smith’s absence for the series opener.
“There’s no need to take unnecessary risks with head injuries.
“It probably gives our selection committee a few headaches now because the top order struck them beautifully, without getting a big score.
“Anytime you’ve got Steve Smith coming back into the team it’s a great feeling.”
Smith’s head knock came some 13 months on from being infamously felled by a Jofra Archer bouncer at Lord’s during last year’s Ashes. That knock caused him to miss the second innings of that Test as well as the third Test of the series before he returned with a match-winning double century in the fourth Test.
Marsh said Smith would welcome a short-ball attack if England’s speedsters choose to target him with that approach on his return.
“Absolutely, I’m looking forward to seeing that happen,” Marsh said with a smile.
“Anyone who bowls 150kms an hour, he loves the challenge so there’ll be no backing down from Steve Smith, I know that 100 per cent for sure.”
Mitchell Starc, meanwhile, was clearly in some discomfort on Friday with some upper leg soreness he suffered when he slipped in the field, but the left-armer is expected to play on Sunday.
Aaron Finch’s side completed a 19-run win over the world champions in the first ODI and have now enjoyed success in two of their past three 50-over matches against their oldest cricketing rival, stretching back to last year’s World Cup in England.
With inputs from Cricket Australia