The Australian Test captain Tim Paine minced no words when he said that he wants Steve Smith fully fit for the 2021-22 Ashes series at home even if it means missing the upcoming T20 World Cup in October-November.
“Obviously from a selfish point of view, I would love him to be one hundred percent fit and if that means he misses that (T20 World Cup) tournament, then so be it.
But I think Steve’s a professional, he’ll know where his body’s at, and if he doesn’t feel like he’s right then he’ll make the right call,”
Paine was quoted saying in a media conference where he was promoting the release of tickets for the upcoming men’s and women’s home cricketing summer.
Steve Smith has a supreme record in Test cricket as he averages 61.80. In addition to this, he has almost single-handedly carried the Australian batting line-up in the last couple of Ashes series.
He smashed 687 runs at an average of 137.40 in the 2017-18 Ashes at home before racking up 774 runs at an average of 110.57 in the 2019 Ashes in England. Hence, it is no surprise Paine tipped Smith as the best player in the world and wants him to be fit in time for the Ashes.
“He’s the best player in the world and you take the best player of any side out, it creates a bit of a hole so fingers crossed his elbow comes good,”
Paine further added highlighting Smith’s importance in the Test side.
The Australian men’s and women’s cricket teams have a bumper 2021-22 home season ahead. While the women’s team face India in a multi-format series, including a historic day-night Test against Mithali Raj and co. That series starts on the 19th of September.
There’s the Women’s Big Bash League, which will be followed by the Women’s Ashes which is scheduled to start on January 27 and then the mega 50-over World Cup in New Zealand.
The men’s team also have a hectic schedule. The home season will start with a historic one-off Test match against Afghanistan at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart. This will be followed by the Ashes, which kicks off on the 8th of December. New Zealand and Sri Lanka then make white-ball tours to Australia to finish the Australian cricketing summer.
