Steve Smith ruled out mid-match with compound finger dislocation in WTC final

Australia’s seasoned batter Steve Smith was rushed to hospital on Friday after sustaining a painful finger injury during the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa at Lord’s. The incident occurred midway through Day 3, when Smith attempted a sharp catch off South Africa skipper Temba Bavuma.

Fielding in an unusually advanced position in the slip cordon and wearing a protective helmet, Smith tried to latch onto a fierce edge from Bavuma, who was batting on just two runs at the time. However, the ball struck Smith’s right hand awkwardly, causing him to drop the catch and immediately reel away in visible discomfort.

JUST IN: A big injury blow for the Aussies with confirmation that Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger #WTC25 pic.twitter.com/9Vu8A8Gb80

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) June 13, 2025

The 36-year-old was promptly attended to by Australian medical staff on the field before leaving the pitch for further evaluation. At the time of the incident, South Africa were 76/2 in pursuit of a challenging target of 282 for victory.

Cricket Australia soon issued an official update, confirming the extent of the injury. “Steve Smith has suffered a compound dislocation of his right little finger while fielding in the slip cordon during the ICC Men`s World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord`s. He was assessed by Australian team medical staff at the ground and taken to hospital for X-rays and further treatment,” read the statement.

The injury casts a shadow over Australia’s preparations for their upcoming Test series against the West Indies, which begins in Barbados on June 25. Given Smith’s stature as one of Australia’s most dependable Test performers, any prolonged absence would be a significant blow.

Smith has been a cornerstone of Australia’s batting line-up for over a decade, amassing more than 10,000 runs in the longest format of the game at an outstanding average of over 56. He played a crucial role in the first innings of this WTC final, contributing a gritty 66 runs to guide the defending champions to a competitive total.

Australia will be anxiously awaiting medical updates to determine whether Smith will be available for the Caribbean tour. His experience and stability in the middle order remain vital, especially as Australia look to continue their recent dominance in Test cricket.

Meanwhile, the match itself has been full of drama and intensity, with both teams exchanging control sessions. Smith’s injury only added to the list of twists in what has been a gripping contest for the WTC mace at the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground.

(With AFP inputs)

This article first appeared on Mid Day