ICC World Cup 2023: Afghanistan spinners are a big threat: Steve Smith

Australia’s Steve Smith during a practice session at Wankhede yesterday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Five-time champions Australia began their World Cup campaign on a terrible note as they lost both opening games - against India and South Africa, on October 8 and 12 in Chennai and Lucknow, respectively. However, Pat Cummins's side bounced back strongly, winning all five games so far. Today, they face a spirited Afghanistan side at the Wankhede Stadium.

If Australia beat Afghanistan, they will secure a semi-final berth along with India and South Africa. And if Hashmatullah Shahidi-led Afghanistan team play to potential, they will remain in contention for the semis spot.

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The Afghan team did wonders by beating three former champions - England, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - and are hoping to replicate the same performance against the Australians. Their Top-5 batsmen - Shahidi, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Ibrahim Zadran are in good form and have contributed to 200-plus totals in the tournament. Above all, their star spinners - Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman - have claimed seven wickets each, while off-spinner Mohammad Nabi has taken six wickets so far.

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Australia batsman Steve Smith admitted that countering the Afghan spinners will be a real concern for his team. "I think they [Afghanistan] have won some key moments in games against some good teams and clearly their spinners are a big threat. They're quality bowlers and they've got some batters particularly at the top of the order that are taking the game on and can take it away from you," Smith said during the pre-match press conference on Monday.

Smith hopeful of playing despite vertigo

Though Australia's experienced batsman Steve Smith, 34, trained during the team's practice session ahead of their game against Afghanistan at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday, the former champions have a fitness concern as Smith revealed having symptoms of vertigo.

However, despite a recurrence of vertigo, the star batsman is hopeful of playing against Afghanistan today. "I've had a bit of vertigo stuff the last day or so, so it's just been a bit annoying. Hopefully I can get through training today [Monday] and be all good. But yeah, it's not a nice place to be.

"Occasionally, I've had a few episodes, so I can tell you it's not a fun space to be in. But, I'll go out and have a hit. Hopefully, I'm okay," Smith, who has scored 205 runs in seven games in the tournament, said at the press conference on Monday. Smith scored a 52-ball 44 (3x4) during Australia's 33-run win over England at Ahmedabad on Saturday.