Smith reveals flu battle amid injury crisis

1 year ago 108

Australia is hoping the flu does not expanse done its campy aft Steve Smith revealed he'd battled the microorganism successful the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test.

Smith combined with David Warner for a 239-run concern which enactment the location broadside successful the driver's spot connected time two, with Australia ending the time holding a 197-run first-innings pb implicit South Africa with 7 wickets inactive successful the shed.

The vice-captain was 1 of 2 men dismissed connected time two, caught disconnected the bowling of Anrich Nortje connected 85, but said "it wasn't a bully day" arsenic helium and Warner felt the afloat brunt of the Melbourne heat.

"I've been beauteous crook really connected the past fewer days and had the flu, truthful it wasn't overmuch amusive retired there," helium said.

"Every clip we ran a 2 oregon a 3 it truly took it retired of you, truthful I was conscionable trying to suck successful a fewer heavy breaths and instrumentality arsenic overmuch clip arsenic we could successful betwixt those agelong runs.

"I really didn't consciousness similar I batted precise good astatine all. I didn't consciousness successful a bully space. I was fortunate to get the runs and person the concern that we did, but I didn't consciousness precise bully retired there."

Smith said helium did not person immoderate cognition of immoderate different teammates being struck down with the flu.

Despite losing conscionable 2 wickets, Australia mislaid 2 much batters, with some Warner and Cameron Green retiring hurt.

Warner was incapable to proceed his innings soon aft posting the 3rd double-century of his vocation owed to exhaustion and cramping, but is expected to bat connected time 3 if required.

Green's information is nether much uncertainty aft the talented all-rounder was sent for scans pursuing a nasty stroke that near his close manus bleeding.

The stroke to Green's manus came aft Mitchell Starc besides suffered a digit wounded portion fielding connected the opening day.

In affirmative news, Starc is expected to partake successful the remainder of the Test and volition besides vessel if required successful South Africa's 2nd innings.

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