‘Completely against it’: Smith hits back at Aussie legend — and opens up over ‘disgusting’ blow

Australian vice-captain Steve Smith has jumped to defence of Michael Di Venuto after the national batting coach copped criticism from former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy.

In the absence of Smith, Australia’s top order struggled on the lively Kensington Oval deck during last week’s Frank Worrell Trophy series opener against the West Indies. Cameron Green posted scores of 3 and 15, caught in the slips cordon on both occasions, while the recalled Josh Inglis twice threw his wicket away with ill-judged shots, dismissed for 5 and 12 on Test return.

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During the match, Healy argued that Australia’s top order has “regressed” since Di Venuto was appointed as an assistant coach of the team in 2021.

“Australian cricket’s batting head coach – and every state batting coach – should be under pressure because there’s not enough runs being scored around the nation either,” Healy told SEN.

“Michael Di Venuto – a friend of mine who is a good coach and a good man – has held the job since mid-2021. In this time, our national team batting has regressed in performance at the Test level,” he added.

“That’s all that’s important to me, the performance. I don’t care how you do it or what will make it easier for you – just get it done.”

Speaking to reporters in Bridgetown on Sunday, Smith declared he was “completely against” Healy’s claim that Di Venuto’ should be “under pressure”, claiming the Tasmanian’s knowledge of batting was “second to none”.

“(Di Venuto’s) not the one out there actually doing the batting,” Smith said.

“Guys have to be able to figure it out themselves out in the middle sometimes. You can’t have someone holding your hand out there.

“He works as hard as anyone. He knows batting inside out. He’s seen cricket all around the world, and knows all the conditions. He’s done a wonderful job for a long time now, and the boys really enjoyed working with him.”

Test batting average of Australia’s top three

2022 — 45.94

2023 — 39.64

2024 — 27.82

2025 — 27.04

Cameron Green of Australia with Michael Di Venuto. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Smith missed last week’s Test against the West Indies due to the gruesome compound dislocation in his finger, sustained while dropping a catch during the recent World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s.

“I looked straight down and I was like, ‘That doesn’t look right. That looks pretty disgusting.’ I wasn’t sure of the extent of the damage,” Smith recalled.

“Fortunately, there was no fracture, it was just a compound dislocation. (The doctor) said he wanted to put my finger back in as we were running off. That I didn’t have much interest in.

“I was feeling pretty sick at that stage, just from the look of it. Beau (Webster) said I went pretty pale straight away.”

Smith watched`

reative while continuing his rehabilitation in the United States, the 36-year-old revealed that he tested the injured finger in a baseball cage located near New York’s West Side Highway.

“My mate actually told me about it,” Smith said.

“Underneath this bridge, there was a batting cage, and he was able to throw me a few balls there.

“It was nice to hit a few balls.”

He continued: “I had a couple of bats last week with some tennis balls and incredi-balls the first day and then some cricket balls the next day.

“Everything felt good.”

Australia's Steve Smith reacts in pain as he leaves the field. AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth Source: AP

Smith, who had the stitches taken out of his finger on Sunday, was confident he would be fit for the second Test against the West Indies in St. Georges — provided he gets through training unscathed.

If selected, the New South Welshman is expected to replace Inglis in the starting XI and return to his favoured position at No. 4, although he won’t be permitted to field in the slips cordon.

“I don’t feel any pain or anything,” continued Smith, donning a splint that he will likely wear in the Grenada Test.

“It’s all feeling good, just getting used to the splint on and the slight, limited movement.

“It’ll be just training as normal, and then probably fielding some balls in front of the wicket, which would probably be the strangest thing for me. I don’t think I’ve ever done that in a Test match.

“Fielding at either mid-on, mid-off or fine leg or something, a bit different to standing at second or first slip. That’s probably going to be the biggest difference.”

Smith also threw his support behind the underperforming Green and teenager opener Sam Konstas, who was dismissed cheaply in both innings in Bridgetown.

“These guys are good players,” Smith added.

“We’ve got to give them an opportunity, it doesn’t come around straight away. I think back to the start of my career, I think it took me 11 innings to score a hundred. It can take some time.

“These guys have some really good talent, and I think they have bright futures.”

The second Test between the West Indies and Australia gets underway in St George’s on Thursday, with the first ball scheduled for 12am AEST on Friday morning.

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