Smith a doubt for Sri Lanka series with elbow injury

Australian batsman Steve Smith is a doubt for the Test tour of Sri Lanka after picking up an elbow injury in the Big Bash League.

Smith, who is set to replace Pat Cummins as interim captain for the two Test matches, sustained the injury when throwing for the Sydney Sixers last Friday.

The 35-year-old, who has performed brilliantly in his two innings in the BBL with scores of 121 not out and 52, will visit a specialist in Sydney to determine whether he can travel with the side to a preparatory camp in Dubai and compete in the series.

Smith is currently on 9,999 Test runs after being dismissed for just four runs in the final innings of the Border-Gavaskar trophy.

Only England's Joe Root (12,972) has scored more runs in men's Tests since Smith made his Australia debut in July 2010.

His next red-ball run will make him just the 15th man to score 10,000, and the fourth from Australia after Steve Waugh (10,927), Allan Border (11,174) and Ricky Ponting (13,378).

Not the news the Aussie Men's Test side wanted: Stand-in skipper Steve Smith has sustained an elbow injury ahead of the Sri Lanka tour Details: https://t.co/VzLdLotfvk pic.twitter.com/qzksmpA8bq

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 19, 2025

"He[Smith] will remain in Australia while the surgical wound heals further," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

"He is planned to resume bowling this week with a view to joining the squad in Sri Lanka if he continues to progress well."