T20 World Cup: Steve Smith ready to answer injury SOS

Australia should know by Wednesday if captain Aaron Finch is out of the T20 World Cup and a star batter is ready to step up.

Steve Smith of Australia . (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

Steve Smith says he can be Australia’s Virat Kohli and replicate some of the Indian megastar’s World Cup efforts should he be the man selectors turn to if captain Aaron Finch needs to be replaced.

Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Tim David were all undergoing scans after suffering the injuries in Monday night‘s 42-run win over Ireland with the results expected by lunchtime on Wednesday.

One of the world’s best batters, Smith has been left to run drinks, and substitute in the field, through the early rounds of Australia’s T20 World Cup defence, and watched on as Kohli single-handedly took down Pakistan at the MCG in their opening game.

Smith said the way the tournament had panned out suited his style of play, with the capacity to start slow and then go big, like Kohli, something the 33-year-old thinks he could do.

“Some of the wickets are doing quite a bit and you haven‘t seen those really big scores,” Smith said.

“Guys like Virat (Kohli) in that game (against Pakistan) at the MCG just batted, and then took it on later on. That is the way I like to go about things.

Australia's Steve Smith bats in the nets during a training session in Melbourne on October 27, 2022, ahead of their ICC men's Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match against England. (Photo by William WEST / AFP) /

“If things are difficult early, I have played Test cricket and one-day cricket so I have got the game to play in those difficult circumstances.

“The way the tournament has played out so far with the wickets, if you have got someone who is able to bat through a fair chunk of the innings and let the hitters go around them, that has worked pretty well.”

Cameron Green looms as a potential inclusion having been favoured at the top of the batting order during Australia’s World Cup lead-in games.

“He’s pretty talented isn’t he?” Smith said of Green.

“We saw the way he played in India in particular, opening the batting, he went after it and it came off. That’s another path the selectors will go down if the guys don’t come up. So plenty of options there and good depth in our squad.”

Australia's Captain Aaron Finch has hurt his hamstring (Photo by Patrick Hamilton / AFP) /

But Smith has shown himself to be a big-time performer, making five-straight 50s as Australia went on to win the 50-over World Cup, on home soil in 2015, which gives him some claims to a call-up.

“I loved 2015, the back end of that tournament, it’s a long time ago now, but I think I passed 50 in all the last four or five games of that World Cup,” he said,.

“I know when it gets to the pressure sort of stages I’d like to think I go well in those situations. So if the opportunity does arise, I’ll be ready to go.”

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is set to captain the side if Finch is ruled out of Friday’s clash against Afghanistan, which the Aussies have to win to keep their semi-final chances alive.

“I assume Wadey will take the reins, but I’m happy to help in any way I can,” Smith said.

“I’ve got a lot of experience, vice-captain of the Test side and been captain before, so happy to help in any way I can. Fingers crossed the guys who’ve had their scans get some good news.”