It leaves him a major doubt for the upcoming tour of the West Indies

Steven Smith, Australia’s star batsman, is a major doubt for the upcoming Test tour of the West Indies after suffering a compound dislocation of his right little finger during the World Test Championship final at Lord’s.

The injury occurred on the third day when Smith, fielding at first slip and wearing a helmet due to his close proximity to the batsman, spilled a sharp chance from South Africa captain Temba Bavuma off Mitchell Starc’s bowling. Recognizing the severity immediately, Smith left the field in considerable pain and was taken to the hospital for X-rays and further treatment.

This dropped catch could impact the WTC final’s outcome, and Smith’s potential absence for the West Indies tour, which begins with the first Test in Barbados on June 25, creates a significant void in Australia’s batting lineup. The top order, including Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, and Cameron Green, has shown struggles in the WTC final. Smith, on the other hand, had been in prolific form recently, scoring four centuries in his last five Tests against India and Sri Lanka, in addition to a first-innings 66 at Lord’s.

Should Smith be sidelined for all or part of the Caribbean tour, it could open the door for Sam Konstas to return to the Test side. This would likely involve Labuschagne moving back to his preferred No. 3 position, with Green potentially dropping to No. 4, where he famously scored 174 not out against New Zealand before his back injury. Josh Inglis, already part of the WTC final squad which will also travel to the West Indies, is another batting option. If further reinforcements are needed, Nathan McSweeney could also be considered.