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Steve Smith says he batted through the final three Tests of the men's Ashes with tendon damage in his left wrist after being injured while fielding during the second match of the series.
- Smith sustained the injury on the final day of the second Test at Lord's
- He says he was forced to find a way to hold his bat that didn't cause pain
- Smith was a "bit disappointed" with his batting in the Ashes
Smith will miss Australia's upcoming white-ball tour of South Africa with the injury, as he needs to keep the joint in a brace for at least the next fortnight.
The 34-year-old is in no doubt for Australia's 50-over World Cup opener against hosts India on October 8, and is likely to play in lead-up matches ahead of the tournament.
Smith said he believed he injured his wrist while fielding in the deep during England's second innings on the final day of the second Test at Lord's.
He then batted through his last six innings of the tour in pain, requiring a cortisone injection before the fourth Test at Old Trafford and seeking further scans after returning to Australia following the series.
"I must have just landed awkwardly," Smith said.
"It was quite painful at Headingley. Even in the lead-in, I didn't hit that much in the nets. I was just trying to find a way to hold the bat that wasn't painful.
"After that, some shots I played — cross-bat and back-foot punching — I was sore. Trying to decelerate the bat was hard, or defending sometimes was sore. But it wasn't awful."
Smith had averaged 41.5 in the series before sustaining the injury but only 34.5 in the final three Tests, as Australia let slip a 2-0 Ashes lead to draw 2-2.
"Maybe it did [impact me], I'm not sure," Smith said.
"I was a bit disappointed with my batting. I got a few starts but just didn't kick on to get a big score.
"I felt really good in the first innings (of the fifth Test) at The Oval. I probably hit the trigger a bit early. But until that point I didn't feel as if I was going to get out.
"Even in the second innings I felt good there. But I just didn't capitalise on a few starts as much as I would have liked."
AAP
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