SL vs AUS 2025: Steven Smith cleared to play following medical review

Australia are gearing up for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka starting later in January, followed by their travel to Dubai for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Less than two weeks to go for the series, star batter and interim captain Steven Smith was looking doubtful to take part in the series. However, in positive news for the Australian team, Smith has been cleared to feature for the series.

Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the development in the matter via a release on Monday, January 20. The board further revealed that the ace batter had undergone a medical review from a specialist surgeon to scan the injury on the right elbow that the Sydney Sixers cricketer had sustained during a BBL match against Sydney Thunder.

“Steve Smith has undergone a specialist medical review today following his right elbow injury sustained during the Big Bash League. He has been cleared to rejoin the Test squad and travel to Dubai. Smith is expected to return to batting later in the week to begin his preparation for the first Test against Sri Lanka,” Cricket Australia (CA) stated.

"Smith is expected to return to batting later in the week to begin his preparation for the first Test against Sri Lanka," it added.

Speaking of Smith’s record in red-ball cricket he has played 114 games where he has scored 9999 runs at an average of 55.86. He is the fourth-highest run-getter for Australia behind Aussie greats Ricky Ponting, Alan Border, and Steve Waugh. He was also the second-highest run scorer in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25, where he scored 314 runs at an average of 34.88 and scored two centuries during the series. 

Since Pat Cummins has opted for rest from the Sri Lanka series citing workload concerns, Smith has the opportunity to breach the 10,000-run mark in the format while being the captain of the side.

Update of Kuhnemann awaited

Left-arm orthodox spinner Matthew Kuhnemann, on the other hand, continues to remain doubtful to enter the field for the red-ball games, although he will be travelling with the team to the island nation. Notably, Kuhnemann had undergone a blow to non-bowling right thumb, which forced doubts on his participation in Sri Lanka Tests, something that still remains under contingencies.

Australia squad for two Tests vs Sri Lanka, 2025: Steven Smith, Travis Head, Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Cooper Connolly, Nathan McSweeney, Beau Webster, Scott Boland, Matthew Kuhnemann, Mitchell Starc, Todd Murphy, Nathan Lyon