Courtesy: Google

Courtesy: Google

Steve Smith, one of the greatest cricketers of his generation, has been medically cleared to join the Australian cricket team as the stand-in captain on the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka. The participation of Steve Smith in the two-match Test series, set to be played in Galle against Sri Lanka later this month, came in serious jeopardy as he suffered an elbow injury during a Big Bash League (BBL) game while playing for Sydney Sixers against Sydney Thunder at the SCG.

The elbow injury on his right hand was sustained by Steve Smith while throwing a ball from the outfield during the Sydney derby in the BBL, which eventually got rained out three days ago. It led to speculation about Steve Smith potentially missing out on the Sri Lanka, but after undergoing a specialist medical review,, he has been cleared to join the Australian Test squad for their preparatory camp in Dubai before going to Sri Lanka, as per the report from Cricbuzz.

Steve Smith was named captain of Australia for Sri Lanka Test series in absence of Pat Cummins

In the absence of Pat Cummins, who has opted out of the Test series against Sri Lanka due to the impending birth of his second child and recovery from an ankle issue, Steve Smith was given the captaincy reign for the two matches by Cricket Australia (CA). Travis Head is the vice-captain of the Australian cricket team for the Test tour to Sri Lanka after his exceptional showing in the format over the last couple of years.

Moreover, apart from Pat Cummins, his fast bowling partner Josh Hazlewood isn’t picked in the team for Sri Lanka Test series due to a calf strain.

Below is the Australian squad for the two Test match series in Sri Lanka:

Steven Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Travis Head (vc), Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster