The world's best batter Steve Smith sent an almighty scare through Australia's camp during a nets session ahead of the first Ashes Test.
The veteran right-hander was struck on the finger while batting and had to stop his practice, then was seen sitting on a chair in pain while he was examined by a medico.
While Smith sits second on the ICC men's Test batting rankings behind teammate Marnus Labuschagne, he is widely considered the best batter in the world.
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He scored a century during last week's WTC final win against India at The Oval and his Test average is an enviable 60.04.
The Aussies are yet to name their XI for the first Ashes Test, which begins at Edgbaston on Friday night.
Smith and his teammates have never won an Ashes series in England. They drew the 2019 series, where Smith starred.
Smith scored 774 runs in four tests at an average of 110 as Australia retained the Ashes on English soil in 2019 with a 2-2 draw in the series.
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Indeed, these are Smith's scores in his last 10 Test innings in England, including the recent win over India in the World Test Championship final: 143, 144, 142, 92, 211, 82, 80, 23, 121, 34.
Under the captaincy of Ben Stokes over the past year, England has adopted an aggressive and attacking approach - with both bat and ball - and how to tame Australia's best batter will undoubtedly be a priority.
"I think we've seen over the last 12 months they will do some funky things," Smith said of England, two days before the first Test at Edgbaston.
"They are going to have to try different things at certain times.
"For me, one of my big strengths has been adapting on the go, understanding what they are trying to do and solving the problem out there in the middle. I will just focus on my game and try to counter each thing they come at me with. We are expecting some different stuff, that's for sure."
- with AP
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