'He’ll be fine' : Aaron Finch confirms Steve Smith's injury not serious

Australia skipper Aaron Finch has brushed aside the fitness concerns of Steve Smith ahead of the team’s next game against Bangladesh in the 20-20 World Cup. Smith was seen grabbing his groin while trying to attempt a run-out during Australia’s eight-wicket loss against England. The batter looked in slight discomfort but stayed on the field.

Finch sounded confident of Smith’s fitness and revealed he is doing good. “He’ll be fine,” Australia’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch said. “He didn’t mention anything. So I’m sure that he will be fine.”

The former Australian skipper is one of the vital players in the team’s batting order. Smith was also the team’s highest run-scorer in Australia’s two warm-up matches and their opening match against South Africa. The right-hand batter scored 35 in a nervy run-chase and helped Australia to a five-wicket victory. Smith missed out on scoring runs against England but has otherwise looked decent in the global event.

However, cricketer-turned-expert Shane Warne has questioned Smith’s place in the team. Head coach Justin Langer dropped all-rounder Mitchell Marsh and played an extra spinner in Ashton Agar instead. Warne said that instead of Smith, Marsh could have been selected against England. The leg spinner had earlier questioned Smith's selection in the 20-20 World Cup squad. Responding to Warne's statement, Finch said Australia went in with a team they though was best to win.

“That’s just subjective, isn’t it?” Finch responded when quizzed on Smith’s selection,

“Everyone’s got a different opinion on it. And that’s okay, we thought we picked the team to win the game tonight.

“It was not a reflection on how Mitch has been going at all, it was purely just a match-up.”

Australia have slipped to the third position on the points table after the heavy eight-wicket loss against England. The team has a few days to regroup before it takes on Bangladesh on Thursday (November 4).