Steve Smith ready to return for Australia after training stint in baseball batting cage

Smith missed the first Test victory of the three-match series in the Caribbean after suffering a compound dislocation of his right little finger when he dropped a catch at Lord's during the World Test Championship final earlier this month.

The 36-year-old, who has scored more than 10 000 runs in 117 Test matches, said he has been facing some balls at a baseball batting cage in New York and is ready for a comeback ahead of the Test in Grenada that starts on Thursday.

"My mate actually told me about it, which was ideal because it was pretty warm there (in New York)," Smith said. "Underneath this bridge there was a batting cage, and he was able to throw me a few balls there, so it was good to be in the shade, it was pretty hot there.

"For me, it'll just feel like training as normal, I think," he said. "I don't really feel any pain or anything. [It's] just getting used to the splint on and the slight limited movement. It's not too bad, I've got a lot of movement there now, so that feels good. Hitting the ball felt completely fine.

"Fielding some balls in front of the wicket will probably be the strangest thing for me, I don't think I've ever done that in a Test match. Fielding at either probably mid-on or mid-off or fine leg, is a bit different to standing at the second or first slip."

Smith has also now had his stitches removed and has joined the Australia squad ahead of practice where he will have a two days of preparation in the nets.