- Steve Smith injured his shoulder while fielding in the fifth ODI against India
- The Australia captain will return home after suffering the knock last Sunday
- Scans revealed that there is no ‘serious injury’ ahead of this winter’s Ashes
- ‘The best course of action is for him to not continue to aggravate his shoulder’
Australia cricket captain Steve Smith will return home from the team’s tour of India with a right shoulder injury, Cricket Australia said Saturday.
The Australians lost their five-match one-day series against India 4-1 and begin a three-match Twenty20 series later Saturday.
Marcus Stoinis will replace Smith in the squad and vice-captain David Warner will stand in as captain in Smith’s absence.
Australia captain Steve Smith will return home from their tour of India with a shoulder injury
Smith suffered the knock while fielding during the fifth One Day International last Sunday
Australian team doctor Richard Saw said: ‘Smith landed awkwardly on his right shoulder while diving in the field during the fifth ODI against India last Sunday. Following the match he complained of shoulder soreness.
‘Subsequently he has had an MRI scan which has excluded serious injury, but we believe the best course of action is for him to not continue to aggravate his shoulder.’
Fitness permitting, Smith will lead Australia into this winter’s Ashes series against England, who will travel Down Under without Ben Stokes following his late night brawl in Bristol.
Team doctors revealed that scans showed the batsman had not suffered a ‘serious injury’