Australia captain Steve Smith admits he may have to play through a little discomfort in the Boxing Day Test after being hit on the hand during net practice.
Smith took the unlucky blow to his right hand on Christmas Eve, in bizarre circumstances, after a shot from opener Cameron Bancroft somehow found its way out of his net and ricocheted in the direction of his captain – who was waiting to bat.
There has never been any suggestion Smith’s participation in Melbourne could be in trouble.
But he may have to modify some of the quirky methods which have brought him 426 runs at an average of 142 in a prolific series so far.
“It was a little bit sore (at Christmas Day net practice), playing a few different shots,” he said.
“But I’ll be able to deal with it and I’ll get on with it.
“Maybe I’ll just have to use a bit more of my top hand throughout the game – a bit less wristy.”
Smith could hardly believe his bad luck when Bancroft’s stray shot somehow managed to hit him on the same spot at the back of his right hand which was already smarting from previous blows in Perth last week.
“I copped a few in the nets in Perth and a few more in the game.
“It just seems to be whenever you’re getting hit in a spot – it just continually gets hit.”
If England try to target him by dropping a few short at the MCG, though, he will not be complaining.
“I hope so, on this wicket,” he said.
“It doesn’t have quite the same pace and bounce as the WACA did, so if you’re bowling that length (to me) out there it’s not a bad thing.”
There are no hard feelings for Bancroft.
“I didn’t give him much (initially),” added Smith.
“(But) he kept coming up … it’s all good, accidents happen.”
With Australia in an unassailable 3-0 lead and the Ashes therefore already back in safe keeping, Smith has taken a slightly dimmer view of England seamer James Anderson’s suggestion that the hosts lack fast-bowling depth.
Mitchell Starc, missing through injury at the MCG and replaced by Jackson Bird, has taken 19 wickets in the series – while Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have a further 26 between them.
Asked to respond to Anderson’s unexpected gambit, Smith said: “That’s rubbish.
“Does he know that much about Australian domestic cricket? I’m not sure.
“I know there’s plenty of guys who could come in and really do a job for us.”
