Smith in tour game
Key man to take on Derbyshire
THE spotlight on Australia’s tour match against Derbyshire next week will be a little bit more intense with batting star Steve Smith set to turn out against the County Championship second division team.
Club officials have declared their intent to field the strongest team possible too, although some of their first choice players are carrying “some knocks” having begun their season in May.
But the 16-quid tickets (A$28) to get in have been selling fast after news Smith would have a hit in a bid to prove his fitness for the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester.
Smith, David Warner, Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon didn’t play in the last tour match against Worcester. It’s understood Warner, despite his poor Ashes form, is unlikely to play in Derby either.
The fast bowlers who play at Headingley will also be given a rest, leaving Mitch Starc to once again headline the attack. But Australian coach Justin Langer said it would be ideal for Smith to get a bat at Derby, should he pass the necessary concussion protocols, after being ruled out of the Headingley Test.
“He was probably only a few days off not playing in this Test match,” Langer said.
“It’d be great for him rather than just doing it in the nets or having throwdowns, to play that practice game. It could work out really well. We know what he’s like, so look out the Derbyshire bowlers.
“I’m sure if he passes what he has to go through he’ll be right to play that game.”
Langer again defended the decision to allow Smith to bat again at Lord’s, after he left the ground for a concussion test, adamant there were no signs he wasn’t ready to go, before suffering the effects of the blow to his neck the next day.
“The process is there for a reason and I am 100 per cent confident that the decision made the other day was the right one,” he said.
“We have a duty of care to our players not just as cricketers but as people. He was really keen and confident he was OK and the tests all showed that.”