Former Australian captain Steve Smith has said that he is ready to give up his participation in the ICC T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates if it can help him stay fit for the Ashes starting December 8.
Smith had to withdraw from the ongoing white-ball series in West Indies and Bangladesh due to a left elbow injury, but he is expected to make a timely recovery for the T20 World Cup, which runs from October 17 to November 14.
“There’s still a little bit of time between now and (the T20 World Cup) and I’m doing fine at the moment – it’s slow, but I’m doing fine,” Smith told cricket.com.au on Friday.
“I would definitely love to be a part of the World Cup, but from my point of view, Test cricket, that’s what my main goal is – to be right for the Ashes and try to emulate what I’ve done in the last couple of years. In the Ashes series I’ve been involved,” Smith said.
Australia would like to grab the urn for the third consecutive series for the first time since 2002-03.
Smith, the world number two Test batsman, has so far scored 1,969 runs in 14 matches with eight centuries in the last three series.
“I want to put myself in a position where I can make that kind of impact. If it means not taking part in the World Cup, then we have to go that route, but hopefully we don’t have to go there,” Smith he said.
Smith said his elbow problem started when he changed his batting grip last summer.
“I was still not 100 percent (during the IPL), it was still bothering me a bit, and I was playing medicated there – taking some pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs every time I batted. It was that Got to the point where it really wasn’t improving much, and while I was there it probably got a little worse.”
Smith, who played six matches for Delhi Capitals before the IPL was postponed on May 4, is currently resting at home and working on his rehab.
get all IPL news and cricket score Here
.