Cricket

Australian Cricket: Smith ready for Pakistan Tests

bet365 News Team Published: Mar 01 2022 08:17

Australia batter Steve Smith says he is ready and raring to go when the first Test against hosts Pakistan starts in Rawalpindi on Friday.

Smith suffered concussion during a T20 international against Sri Lanka just over a fortnight ago, but is content that he has gone through all of the necessary protocols to be able to return to action against Pakistan, who are 11/10 to win the series on home soil.

Recovery on track for Smith

He told ABC: "Recovering from that concussion, I have faced some side-arm and a few spinners. I (now) have the opportunity to face some fast bowlers, which I am looking forward to.

"I am looking forward to the next three days of prep before we get started on Friday."

"The head has progressed really well the last few days, so I am feeling in a good space and I had a couple of good hits in Melbourne before we came away.

"I have been able to do all the exercise stuff that I needed to do to get myself back to that ready-to-play state, so everything is going well."

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Smith and Australia face Pakistan across three Tests, with the second match getting under way in Karachi on March 12th and the third beginning in Lahore on March 21st.

Ashes form not stellar

And the Baggy Greens will be hoping to build on the success they enjoyed in the recent Ashes series, when they swept aside the touring England side 4-0.

Smith was below his imperious best in that series, as he score 244 runs at an average of 30.50 and failing to record a century.