Multiple Australian sporting legends, including cricket stars Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja alongside rugby league icons Nathan Cleary and Ryan Papenhuyzen, graced the fairways on Wednesday during the prestigious LIV Golf Adelaide pro-am event at The Grange Golf Club.
Cricket Stars Swing Clubs Amid World Cup Turmoil
Steve Smith's participation in the pro-am came with dramatic timing, as the stand-in Australian Test captain received an eleventh-hour emergency call to join Australia's T20 World Cup squad in Sri Lanka. This urgent summons followed the shocking news that regular T20 skipper Mitchell Marsh had been ruled out of Australia's opening match against Ireland due to testicular internal bleeding.
The injury occurred when Marsh suffered a brutal direct hit to his protective box during a training session. Cricket Australia confirmed in an official statement that Marsh was experiencing "ongoing pain and discomfort" that restricted his movement, requiring a period of rest and rehabilitation guided by medical advice.
Smith's Unexpected World Cup Opportunity
Smith, who hasn't played a T20 international in two years despite impressive Big Bash League performances for the Sydney Sixers, now finds himself potentially parachuted into the main 15-man squad. The 36-year-old batting maestro was controversially overlooked for initial selection despite plundering 299 runs at an average of 59.8 in the BBL, including a sparkling century against the Sydney Thunder.
"Most of our cricket lads love their golf and we take our clubs and try to play wherever we are," Smith told LIV Golf during the pro-am event, acknowledging he might bring his golf clubs to Sri Lanka.
If Marsh is ruled out for the entire tournament, Smith would become his direct replacement. Alternatively, Australia could opt to bring Smith into the squad for injured fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who has been sidelined with an achilles issue.
Golfing Greats Share Fairway Experiences
Usman Khawaja, who retired from Test cricket following Australia's 4-1 Ashes series victory against England earlier this year, provided humorous insights into the crossover between cricket and golf pressures.
"Honestly, I've learned to take golf not as seriously, but it's still funny," Khawaja told LIV Golf. "You step up to the tee, and you're like: 'Please don't shank it. Please don't shank it.' It's very funny. It's a bit like cricket when you go to bat, and you're like: 'Please don't get a duck. Please don't get a duck.' So, it's very similar."
Rugby League Stars Embrace Golf Opportunity
Penrith Panthers icon Nathan Cleary took a break from pre-season preparations to participate in the Adelaide event, posing for photographs alongside Steve Smith and 2022 Open Champion Cameron Smith during the pro-am.
"Yeah, I think sometimes you can get caught in the grind of preseason and playing footy and you're so rigid with everything," Cleary explained. "But you know, these are once in a lifetime sort of opportunities. So, being able to be a part of this is something I've really enjoyed and am grateful for the opportunity."
Cleary added that he and his girlfriend, footballer Mary Fowler, would definitely return to play The Grange and watch LIV Adelaide when it next visits town.
Fellow rugby league stars Ryan Papenhuyzen and James Tedesco also participated in the pro-am, with Papenhuyzen having announced his retirement from professional rugby league during the off-season.
LIV Golfers Eye Major Championship Qualifications
Australian golfer Elvis Smylie arrived at LIV Adelaide looking to claim back-to-back victories on the LIV Golf circuit after securing his first win since joining the Saudi-backed breakaway league during the off-season.
Smylie's ambitions extend beyond LIV events, with the Australian now eyeing qualification for The Masters in April. Following last week's announcement that LIV Golfers would be awarded ranking points by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR), Smylie rose to No. 77 in the world rankings.
"Yeah, definitely top 50 in the world means that you get in all four majors, which I'm very close to achieving," Smylie said. "So it's great that we do get recognition. At the end of the day, good golf takes care of itself, and yeah, try and win a few more times. Ultimately, the Masters is something that's on my mind now."
World Cup Implications for Australian Campaign
Marsh's potential extended absence represents a significant blow to Australia's T20 World Cup aspirations. The all-rounder ranks among the world's most devastating white-ball players and was slated to play a crucial opening role alongside Travis Head throughout the tournament.
Australia's schedule provides minimal recovery time, with matches against Ireland on Wednesday followed by Zimbabwe on Friday. The situation compounds existing selection challenges, with power hitter Tim David already ruled out of the opening match as he continues recovering from a hamstring injury.
As Australian cricket faces unexpected selection dramas, their sporting heroes demonstrated remarkable versatility, transitioning seamlessly from fairway to cricket pitch while embracing unique opportunities at the intersection of elite sports.
