Steve Smith, Australia ka woh superstar batsman, jiska naam sunte hi bowlers ke paseene chhoot jaate hain. Lekin abhi Lord’s mein World Test Championship (WTC) final ke dauraan unki ungli mein chot ne sabko thodi si chinta mein daal diya hai. Compound dislocation, yeh koi chhoti-moti chot nahi hai – haddi bahar nikal aayi, khoon-nakhoon ka mahaul! Sab soch rahe the, “Bas, ab toh surgery hi hogi.” Par Smith ne ek baar phir dikha diya ki woh kisi bhi cheez se aasani se haar nahi maante. Surgery se bach gaye hain, lekin ab unke saamne ek naya challenge hai – kya woh 25 June se shuru hone wali West Indies ke khilaaf Test series ke liye fit ho payenge?
Haan, yeh wahi Smith hai jisne 2023 WTC final mein India ke khilaaf 121 run thok diye the, jab Australia ne mace jeeta tha. Us match mein unka partnership Travis Head ke saath India ke liye sarr dard ban gaya tha. Lekin ab, jab baat West Indies tour ki hai, toh chot ke bawajood Smith ka dil abhi bhi khelne ke liye machal raha hai. Doctor bol rahe hain ki ungli mein splint daal kar shayad woh batting kar sakte hain, agar dard seh sake toh. Lekin slip mein fielding? Woh toh ab shayad khatam hi samjho.
Yeh bhi sunne mein aaya tha ki Smith WTC final ke baad Major League Cricket (MLC) mein Washington Freedom ke liye do match khelne wale the. Par ab yeh chot unke T20 ke maze par bhi paani pher sakti hai. Socho, ek taraf Test cricket ka pressure, doosri taraf T20 ka josh, aur beech mein yeh chot ka drama. Waise, Smith ke liye yeh koi nayi baat nahi hai. 2018 ka ball-tampering scandal ho ya phir 2023 Ashes mein unka century, yeh banda hamesha headlines mein rehta hai.
Ab zara West Indies ki baat kar lete hain. Yeh team, jo kabhi cricket jagat ka badshah hua karti thi, aaj kal thodi si chhoti si lagti hai jab baat Australia jaise giant ke saath mukable ki aati hai. Lekin yaad rakho, West Indies ke paas ab bhi woh josh hai jo kisi bhi din bade-bade dabangg teams ko hara sakta hai. Yaad hai na 1983 ka World Cup final? Jab India ne, jo us waqt koi itni badi team nahi maani jaati thi, West Indies ko hara kar trophy uthayi thi? Aisa hi kuchh in Tests mein bhi ho sakta hai. West Indies ke paas Jason Holder aur Kemar Roach jaise players hain, jo apne din par kisi bhi batting line-up ko dhwasth kar sakte hain. Aur agar Smith thoda bhi kamzor pada, toh yeh unke liye ek bada mauka hoga.
Australia ka top order bhi abhi thoda larazta hua dikh raha hai. Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, aur Cameron Green WTC final mein kuchh khaas nahi kar paye. Khawaja toh pichhle ek saal se pace bowlers ke khilaaf struggle hi kar rahe hain. Agar Smith nahi khele, toh shayad Sam Konstas ya Josh Inglis ko mauka milega, aur yeh naye khiladiyo ke liye apna naam banane ka ek shandaar chance hoga. West Indies ke liye yeh ek golden opportunity hai – ek thok-bajake wali jeet unko wapas cricket map par laa sakti hai.
Lekin yeh bhi sach hai ki Smith ka form is waqt itna zabardast hai ki unka na hona Australia ke liye bada jhatka hoga. Pichhle paanch Tests mein chaar centuries, yeh koi mazak nahi hai! Unka Lord’s mein record bhi shandaar hai – 525 runs, 58.33 ki average ke saath. Agar woh khelte hain, toh West Indies ke bowlers ke liye mushkil badh jayegi. Par cricket ka maza hi yahi hai – ek din aap hero, doosre din zero. 2005 Ashes yaad karo, jab England ne Australia ko 2-1 se hara diya tha, woh bhi unke golden era ke beech mein. Aisa hi kuchh West Indies bhi kar sakti hai, agar thodi si kismat aur bohot sara dum unke saath ho.
Par phir bhi, cricket ke is jungle mein, koi bhi guarantee nahi hai. Smith shayad wapas aaye, splint ke saath hi sahi, aur West Indies ke bowlers ka band baja de. Ya phir yeh chot unke career ka ek aur mod ban jaye, jahan se woh aur mazboot hokar wapas aayein. Lekin abhi ke liye, West Indies ke fans thodi si ummeed rakh sakte hain ki shayad, bas shayad, unki team is baar kuchh bada kar dikhaye. Warna, Australia ke paas itna talent hai ki woh ek do chot ke bawajood bhi West Indies ko hara hi denge. Aur yeh cricket ka woh sach hai jo hamesha dil todta hai jab aap chhoti team ke saath ho.
