Steve Smith’s injury scare as selectors left with one major question

Australia’s already shaky World Cup was dealt a cruel blow when a star was left in the hands of medical staff during a net session.

Australia’s already shaky World Cup campaign was dealt a crushing blow when Steve Smith was left in the hands of medical staff.

The Aussie star came off second best during a net session a day before their clash against Netherlands.

Watch every match of The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >

Pace bowler Sean Abbott slammed a delivery into the right arm of Smith that resulted in blood being drawn.

He quickly left the nets as Australia’s medical staff came in to assess the damage. Smith has endured a tough World Cup with only 72 runs from the opening four matches.

Despite needing to be checked over, Smith ultimately returned to the nets in a move that shows he will be ready for Wednesday’s match.

While Smith looks likely to remain in the line-up, whispers are growing he could potentially be the man to miss with Travis Head set to return.

Smith could be in the gun. (Photo by Sajjad HUSSAIN / AFP).

Travis Head is firing to go. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Head looks set to be reinserted at the top of the order alongside David Warner after overcoming a broken hand.

The insertion of Head would then likely push Mitch Marsh back to the number three spot with both Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the gun.

Australian selector George Bailey confirmed Head would only be put back into the team as an opener, where he has averaged 50.60 across 25 innings.

“Clearly, (he) comes in at the top,” Bailey said.

It means the selectors will look at axing either Smith or Labuschagne who have both struggled to make an impact at this World Cup.

Smith has only passed 30 once in his four innings while Labuschagne has been better than Smith with an average of 30.25, but with a strike rate of only 64.

Marnus has struggled to get going. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Head, 29, is fit and firing to go and ready to leave his mark on this World Cup after missing out in 2019. He was thankful to the Aussie selectors for backing him in despite his injury.

“It’s not something that I expected at the time,” Head said of the selectors’ faith.

“Obviously there was a range of emotions through those three or four days after the injury to think that I missed a chance again to be involved in a World Cup.

“Now it’s a case of day-by-day getting better and hopefully I can contribute at the end and, I guess, pay a bit of the faith back.”