Steve Smith drops injury bombshell as Aussie opens up about troublesome elbow issue

Ahead of the first ODI against Sri Lanka, Steve Smith has delivered a concerning update about his fitness.

Steve Smith concedes he’ll be limited by an ongoing elbow issue when he captains Australia in the ODI series against Sri Lanka and potentially in the Champions Trophy.

An Australian team weakened by injuries to key players, but coming off the back of a successful Test series win, has two games in Colombo to serve as warm-ups for the tournament in Pakistan that begins next week.

Already without regular captain Pat Cummins, Mitch Marsh, Josh Hazlewood and Marcus Stoinis after his shock retirement, Smith’s limitations in the field pose another potential issue for the Australians.

The batting star injured himself in the field during the Big Bash in January and, despite fears he’d need surgery, recovered in time to belt 272 runs in just two innings in the two Tests in Galle, with two centuries.

But he aggravated the issue on the final day of the second Test and conceded he was not 100 per cent.

“It’s all right. My throwing is probably going to be limited for a little bit,” he said ahead of Wednesday’s opening ODI.

Steve Smith tests his injured elbow. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“I threw one the other day off balance which wasn’t ideal at that stage, but it feels a lot better than it did when I injured it initially during that Big Bash game (in January).

“It won’t affect my batting, just my throwing a little bit at this stage.”

Australian selectors had to add six players to the group in Sri Lanka which will shape the final 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy. Jake Fraser-McGurk, despite a lean Big Bash, Test debutant Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Spencer Johnson and spinner Tanveer Sangha were all included.

It’s likely they will all get at least one of the two matches in Sri Lanka, as some of those who played both Tests are coming off a short break.

Steve Smith’s elbow caused him some trouble in the Test series against Sri Lanka. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

The Sri Lankans have motivation to perform against the Australians, not just after losing the Test series, but having failed to qualify for the Champions Trophy, a tournament that Smith said was “at the front of our minds”.

“I’d be lying if Champions Trophy isn’t at the front of our minds,” he said.

“It’s a big ICC tournament for us.”

Australia opens its Champions Trophy campaign against England on February 22.

Originally published as Steve Smith drops injury bombshell as Aussie opens up about troublesome elbow issue