Steven Smith’s 2019 World Cup participation uncertain

Steven Smith’s 2019 World Cup participation: The banned Australian captain might end up missing the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

The Australian cricket was unequivocally banking on the respective international returns of two of its biggest contemporary names in Steven Smith and David Warner. While both of them were expected to hold the key for Australia during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, it seems likely that Australia will receive a blow regarding the same.

Playing for their respective franchises in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League, both the cricketers ended up injuring their elbows. As a result, they returned back home to get proper treatment.

Since Warner’s injury wasn’t as serious as Smith’s, the current impression was that the southpaw would recover well withing time whereas Smith might end up missing the world event. While there is no confirmation on the same, the murmurs of the same are doing the rounds.

In a recent interview with ESPNcricinfo, Australia Coach Justin Langer laid emphasis on the waiting game for the return of both Warner and Smith. Langer was also vocal about both of them needing game time before playing at the highest level.

“We’ve got to keep working on how they are with their elbows, first. They’re going to need to get some cricket before coming back into the squad. It’s all part of the management. We’ll have to wait and see,” Langer was quoted as saying.

Admitting that it’s been a tough time for the duo since getting banned for a year after their role in the ball tampering saga against South Africa last year, the 48-year old said that it would be ‘crazy’ to not have them in the side but again put in on game time.

“[Re-integration] has been going on for some time now. We know it’s been a tough time for them, it’s been a tough time for Australian cricket, but we know the word integration has been going for the last nine or ten months, or eleven, it’s getting closer isn’t it.

“We’re talking about two great players, we’re not talking about two really good players. Two great players who on paper we’d be crazy not to have them in the team. It’s about how much cricket they get to play between now and then. They’ll find opportunities. We’ll find opportunities, but I can’t say anything else,” Langer added.

While he didn’t confirm anything about the banned pair, it is likely that Warner will take part in the ODI series against Pakistan and eventually the world event. On the other hand, Smith’s slow return due to injury might force him to prepare for the Ashes tour in England with the Australia A side.

“It’s a tough schedule as we all know but we’ve got a World Cup coming up as well. We want to get as close to the World Cup squad as we can over the next 12 games [against India and Pakistan], including the two T20s. We’ve got to keep our eyes very clearly on what’s best for the team, not what’s best for individuals. That doesn’t work. It’d be hard to do that. It’d be good for some individuals to do that, but we’ve also got to win the World Cup. That’s just the schedule we deal with,” Langer further added.