Aussies cautious with Smith as Pakistan approaches

Australia are optimistic star batter Steve Smith will be fully fit ahead of their tour of Pakistan despite a concussion ruling him out of the Dettol T20I series against Sri Lanka.

Smith is expected to make a full recovery within a week from the head knock he suffered in a daring boundary-line save during the final over of Sunday evening's dramatic second T20 victory over Sri Lanka in Sydney.

The 32-year-old, who has a history of concussions and was famously laid low by a Jofra Archer bouncer during the 2019 Ashes, hit his head on the SCG turf in an audacious leaping attempt to stop a six on the midwicket rope.

There was considerable concern as Pat Cummins and Glenn Maxwell urgently gestured for medical attention, but the fact Smith was back on his feet not long after and enquiring as to whether umpires had called the six or not (they had) was a positive sign.

Although he was walking around the changerooms and talking with teammates after Australia held on for victory following a dramatic Super Over finish, his concussion diagnosis was confirmed late on Sunday evening.

Smith will now be subject to "low level protocols" over the coming days before an anticipated recovery within the week.

"It didn't look great," Matthew Wade told cricket.com.au. "I think he hit the ground pretty hard. Whether he went lights out or not, I'm not 100 per cent sure. That's something only he can answer."

Added Josh Hazlewood: "When anyone dives and doesn't get up straight away, there's always a bit of concern. It's good to see him walking around now and make his way off the field."

It comes a day after Will Pucovski suffered the latest in a string of concussions during a warm-up mishap in Victoria's Marsh Sheffield Shield clash with South Australian in Adelaide.

While Smith's head-knock history is not as concerning as that of Pucovski, who has cruelly had his career interrupted by concussions nearly a dozen times, Australia will no doubt monitor the 32-year-old closely. 

This latest blow marks Smith's third concussion in two-and-a-half years.

He was the first player to be replaced by a concussion substitute when he was felled by a brutal Archer bouncer at Lord's in 2019, suffering delayed symptoms that forced him to miss the second innings of that match and the ensuing Test at Headingley.

Smith then suffered another knock upon his return to the United Kingdom for a limited-overs tour the following year, missing the entire ODI series against England having been struck while batting in the Old Trafford practice nets on the eve of the tour opener.  

He also revealed last summer that he nearly missed an ODI against India in which he made a match-winning century after suffering from vertigo and vomiting due to the formation of small crystals known as 'ear rocks'.

Medical experts believe head trauma can be a cause of debris within the ear canal.

The first of three Tests on Australia's historic tour of Pakistan begins on March 4 in Rawalpindi.

Smith scored 9 and 14 in the first two T20Is against Sri Lanka and is adjusting to a middle-order role having been moved down from the No.3 spot he previously occupied.

While he might not possess the power of some of his big-hitting teammates and is not the Indian Premier League prize he once was (earning no bids during the weekend's auction), the right-hander is adamant he has a role to play Australia's T20I side. 

"My role in this team is to fix it if the boys at the top don't come off," Smith told Fox Cricket before play on Sunday. 

"If we lose a few (wickets) in the Power Play it's about coming in and batting normally through the middle for a few overs and then accelerating from there. 

"Then letting the big boys around me go berserk – that's essentially my role. 

"I think there's still a place for someone like me in the T20 game. If you hit the middle of the bat the ball generally goes to the boundary a lot of the time.

"You can hit gaps and I know when I'm playing my best in this format I'm not overthinking things, I'm just playing good cricket shots and using the middle of the bat as much as I can."

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa * unavailable for first three matches

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

Game 1: Australia won by 20 runs (DLS)

Game 2: Australia won in a Super Over

February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 5.10pm AEDT

All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand, Triple M and SEN