New Delhi: Steve Smith has been selected in Australia’s T20 World Cup squad to take the vacant spot left by Josh Hazlewood and is likely to feature in Monday’s must-win clash against Sri Lanka. Smith arrived in Sri Lanka last week and completed Australia’s 15-man squad after the International Cricket Council approved his selection.Sean Abbott was initially called up as replacement for Hazlewood, who withdrew on the eve of the game, but the pacer never officially joined the squad, leaving a vacancy.
Captain and regular opener Mitchell Marsh flew to Sri Lanka to answer a distress call after Smith was knocked down during batting practice in Colombo last week.With Marsh still unavailable for Monday’s clash in Kandy after missing Australia’s first two games with a testicle bleed, Smith is ready to get going.“ICC regulations state that any line-up changes must be submitted and initiated at least one day before the match,” Australia selector Tony Dodemaid said.“With Steve here, and with some uncertainty around Mitch and Marcus Stoinis, it makes sense that he would be activated and available in time for a game if needed.”The in-form Smith remains one of Australia’s most experienced performers and a powerful spinner.Despite his impressive performance in the Big Bash League opener, he was controversially left out of the initial T20 World Cup squad.“Smith is obviously here, so if he gets the chance, he’ll be ready to go. He’s the ultimate professional,” Australia all-rounder Stoinis told reporters in Kandy on Sunday night.Australia frontline pacers Pat Cummins and Hazle Wood are already injury-free.Power batsman Tim David has recently returned from a hamstring tear suffered in December, while Stoinis injured his hand while fielding in the defeat to Zimbabwe, a result that pushed Australia to the brink of elimination.If Australia loses to Sri Lanka in Group B, it will be their second defeat. The 2021 champions will be eliminated if Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday or Sri Lanka on Thursday.However, Stoinis said he hopes to be available for the decisive game.“It was a pretty good hand,” Stonis said.“The scan showed there was no breakage or anything like that, so it was just a little bit ragged and bruised, and it was a lot better than I thought it would be, to be honest.”
