Steve Smith is set to take the captaincy reins from Pat Cummins this week but has made a worrying claim fitness over his own fitness, revealing that he is hoping his team-mates can cover him in the field.

Australia square off against Sri Lanka in the opening Test of their three-match series in Galle on Wednesday and the stand-in captain revealed that he has still not ‘thrown a ball’ in training as he battles back from an elbow injury.

The good news is that Smith has been batting in the nets and is expecting to play on Wednesday in the first Test, after scans cleared the 35-year-old New South Wales batter of any serious issues.

But speaking to reporters in Sri Lanka on Tuesday, the Australian cricketer admitted: ‘I’m not throwing yet.

‘That’s something we will probably build up over the next little bit.

‘I haven’t thrown a ball yet, but fortunately, in this part of the world, I’m probably gonna be parked in the slips for the entire time.

Steve Smith revealed on Tuesday that he is yet to throw a ball in training ahead of Australia’s opening Test against Sri Lanka this week

The good news is that Smith is still expecting to be available for the opening match and has been in the nets batting comfortably after recovering from an elbow injury

The good news is that Smith is still expecting to be available for the opening match and has been in the nets batting comfortably after recovering from an elbow injury

Smith joked that he would have to rely on some of his team-mates to help him field at the boundary but added he'll likely be parked in the slips for the first Test

Smith joked that he would have to rely on some of his team-mates to help him field at the boundary but added he’ll likely be parked in the slips for the first Test

‘If I have to chase one to the boundary, hopefully, one of my mates comes with me.’

Pictures of Smith, 35, wearing a brace on his elbow had gone viral in recent weeks and raised concerns over whether he’d be able to lead the Baggy Greens during this summer’s tour to the subcontinent.

The New South Wales batter had been fearful himself that he had re-aggravated the ligament injury he sustained in 2019. Smith had undergone surgery on that issue and was forced to sit out for a lengthy period. The injury had been sparked after he had taken a catch off David Warner during the Sixers’ derby against the Thunder on January 17.

‘I had a little bit of a scare obviously back home and it was a similar sort of feeling to what I had in 2019 when I did my ligaments,’ the 35-year-old said.

‘Fortunately, it was all mainly muscle and it settled down pretty quickly. I’m actually batting without tape, so it’s much better than expected.’

Earlier on Tuesday, the Australian claimed that fans can expect a few changes to the Test side that defeated India in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this month.

Smith confirmed that Sam Konstas would be making way at the top of Australia’s batting order for Travis Head, who is due to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.

Konstas, though, still has a chance to stake a claim for a middle-order spot, vacated by Head, but he’ll be vying for that spot with Nathan McSweeney, Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis.

Smith, meanwhile, is putting thoughts of joining an illustrious club of Australian batters out of his mind ahead of the three-match series.

Smith can also finally join an exclusive club of Australian crickters who have amassed 10,000 Test runs, with the Aussie having struck 9,999 during his career

Smith can also finally join an exclusive club of Australian crickters who have amassed 10,000 Test runs, with the Aussie having struck 9,999 during his career

Sam Konstas, who impressed as opener in his debut series against India, looks set to lose his spot at the top of Australia's batting order

Sam Konstas, who impressed as opener in his debut series against India, looks set to lose his spot at the top of Australia’s batting order

Travis Head was the leading scorer as Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade following their 3-1 series victory earlier this month

Travis Head was the leading scorer as Australia reclaimed the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade following their 3-1 series victory earlier this month

He agonisingly missed out on joining Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting as one of a handful of Australians to score 10,000 Test runs.

At the SCG, the 35-year-old had missed out on reaching that milestone by just one run.

‘I’ve tried to put it out of my mind,’ Smith, who currently sits on 9,999 Test runs said.

‘I probably thought about that a little too much in Sydney a few weeks back.’

With the captaincy to think about too, Smith said he was ‘trying to put those thoughts out of his mind’.

‘I’m just gonna go out and play. It would be pretty cool [to achieve the feat] I have never really been one for milestones, but to tick off 10,000 alongside those guys mentioned, that would be pretty special.’

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