Steven Smith set to undergo ankle surgery, as Indian Premier League plans are shelved
Australian leg-spin bowler, Steven Smith, is recovering from an ankle injury, and to accelerate the healing process is set to undergo a surgery in his home country. Owing to his affliction, Smith will be missing the ongoing season of the
Indian Premier League, where he was scheduled to play for the newest recruits in the tournament, Kochi Tuskers.
Smith has been consistently playing despite his pain ever since the start of the Australian summer last year. He took part in the recent World Cup, in addition to the three-match One Day International series against Bangladesh, following
the tournament. The series ended with a whitewash in favour of the former World Champions, who scored convincing wins in the three games played at Dhaka.
Australian physiotherapist, Alex Kountouris, thinks the present time is ideal for Smith’s rehab program since he does not have any international commitments to take care off.
"Steve has had long-standing, minor pain in his left ankle during the Australian summer," team physio http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Kountouris-c43123 said. "This is considered an opportune time to have surgery on the ankle. It will take place next week so he can adequately
prepare for the upcoming Australia season."
On the other hand, the newbie in IPL is set to lose a great deal by missing out on Smith’s services, who has proved himself a worthy performer at the highest level. His is a rare talent that needs to be harnessed in order to become a leading
performer. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 is all set to regroup after an ordinary show in the World Cup.
Kochi, on the other hand, has yet to make an impression on the league and has ended up losing both its games in the present season.
During the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 series, Smith told the media that he was happy with his bowling, and expressed his desire to continue bowling, as well as, get a better grip on the demands of international cricket by playing in all three formats of
the game. However, at the time there was no indication that he would soon be requiring surgery.
"I'm pretty happy with the way I'm going. I feel good in everything I'm doing in the nets and in games," Smith said during the series. "Every time I'm bowling in a game it's going to help me, every time I get that opportunity. So at the
moment that's pretty much what it's about for me, gaining control in games under pressure."
The leg-spinning all-rounder was scheduled to join Kochi with teammate, John Hastings who also participated in the Bangladesh series.
Apart from Smith and Hastings, there are other players who are joining their respective teams in IPL after their international commitments end. These include the star of the ODI series Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, and the captain
of the Bangladeshi team, all-rounder, Shakib Al http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hasan-c61990.
The IPL will culminate at the end of next month, after which, the Aussies would have at least a month’s rest before they regroup for the commitments later in the year.
Australia is due to tour Sri Lanka and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120 and his team, as they face the World Cup runner-ups at home for the first time in over five
years.
Clarke would have to be at the top of his game for the forthcoming tours, which would indicate the progress the Aussies have made since the World Cup.
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