Glenn Maxwell has been called in as cover for David Warner for the first Ashes Test in Brisbane. Australia's star opener suffered a sore neck at training on Tuesday during a fielding drill, but is confident of recovering in time, despite showing some discomfort during a 30-minute net session a day prior to the first Test.
"They're thinking about it (bringing in a replacement player) at the moment, but Davey is confident he'll be OK," Smith said. "Davey is going well. He had a hit just before and he's very confident. He said he'll be right to go."
Maxwell played Tests in India and Bangladesh earlier this year, and also scored his maiden Test century in March in Ranchi. However, yet to play a Test at home, Maxwell was roped in after being overlooked when the initial squad was named, with Shaun Marsh being favoured ahead of him for the No.6 batsman's slot.
"He'll be okay," Smith said of Warner. "It's part and parcel of playing cricket. Guys have injuries now and then. You have little niggles and he's confident that he'll be okay. He said he'll even bat like Shivnarine Chanderpaul if he has to bat that way. So I think he'll be all right.
The Australian captain, also confirmed that Mitchell Starc, Josh
Hazlewood and Pat Cummins will lead Australia's pace attack in tandem
for the first time in Test cricket with reserve quicks Jackson Bird and
Chadd Sayers missing out.
"It has been exciting watching them in the nets," said Smith. "Back to 2013-14 when Mitchell was bowling in the nets, these guys (Starc, Cummins) are just as nasty, if not more nasty to be perfectly honest. A couple of the net sessions I have had against Cummins and Starc have been quite scary so that is really exciting for us.
"It's been no real secret that these three have been on the radar to play this game for a very long time. They have been working up towards this. They are here now. They are fresh. They are bowling fast and I think it is a really exciting time for this team."
