Australia coach backs under-fire Smith as opener for series against India
Rubbing salt to the injury, the 34-year-old Smith could only manage 51 runs from four knocks during the recently-completed 2-0 series victory over New Zealand.
Australian captain Steve Smith has been ruled out of the upcoming New Zealand tour after injuring his ankle in the fifth one-day international against Pakistan, Cricket Australia said on Friday.
Smith was fielding in the match at the Adelaide Oval on Thursday when he injured his left ankle, CA said.
"He came off the field and had his ankle strapped and was able to return to the field for the remainder of the match," sports science and sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris said in a statement.
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"Following further assessment this morning we believe Steve has sustained a medial ligament injury to his ankle. He will return to Sydney today to undergo scans to confirm the diagnosis.
"Early indications suggest this will likely take seven to 10 days to recover, meaning Steve will be unable to (participate) in the Qantas Tour of New Zealand."
The New Zealand ODI tour was due to start on Monday.
Cricket Australia said a replacement for Smith would be chosen by the national selection panel later today.
The setback came less than a month before the tough Indian tour.
"We've got a lot coming up so they think it's an opportunity to rest it and be right for India," Smith told reporters in Adelaide, cricket.com.au reported.
"It's a bit of a shock. I just landed really awkwardly on my foot and I felt something straight away.
"I'm confident I'll be fine to train in Dubai after that and for the first Test in India."
The first Test against top-ranked India begins in Pune on February 23.
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