SYDNEY, May 1, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Australia’s Steve Smith has brushed aside
concerns for his surgically repaired elbow after landing awkwardly from a
stunning diving catch in the Indian Premier League.
Smith, who is due to play in the World Cup starting later this month,
helped his Rajasthan Royals to victory Sunday when he took a outstretched
catch to his right off a mistimed hit from international compatriot David
Warner.
The former Australian captain landed heavily on the right elbow that
underwent a major operation in January.
“All good, I just landed on it quite heavily, more heavily than I had
landed on it previously,” Smith said Tuesday ahead of his next IPL clash with
the Royal Challengers in Bangalore.
“From the surgery I have still got some scar tissue and stuff in there and
just the impact of the landing affected it a little bit, but there is nothing
wrong with it, all good,” Cricket Australia’s official website reported him
saying.
Smith and Warner were last month selected in defending champions
Australia’s World Cup squad following their year-long bans for ball-
tampering.
The duo have enjoyed a solid comeback in the Twenty20 IPL, with Warner in
blistering form, topping the competition batting rankings with 692 runs from
12 innings.
Smith has been restricted to close fielding positions throughout the IPL as
his elbow recovers.
“I am throwing at probably 70 or 80 per cent. A couple of weeks and I
should be back to throwing at 100 per cent,” he said, adding that his elbow
rehab was “going really well”.
Smith and Warner will officially return to Australian colours when they
head to Brisbane for a training camp this week to prepare for the World Cup.
The World Cup starts on May 30 in England and Wales.