Smith’s withdrawal forced Australia to reshuffle their batting order for the final Test, with Josh Inglis coming into the side and Cameron Green batting at No. 4. Despite the late change, both batters made valuable contributions, with Green scoring 65 and Inglis finishing the second day unbeaten on 85 off 111 balls.
Captain Pat Cummins and head coach Andrew McDonald had initially expressed confidence that Smith would be available for the Newlands Test. However, the batter continued to experience discomfort during training.
"Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week," the statement said. "Subsequent MRI imaging confirmed a cervical facet joint injury. Due to this and his limited range of motion he was unfit to participate in the current Test.
Smith has around six weeks to recover before the New Zealand series begins in Perth on December 9. Depending on his progress, he could feature in a Sheffield Shield match for New South Wales in November, with fixtures scheduled against South Australia on November 11 and Queensland on November 22, both in Sydney.
Cameron Green and Josh Inglis Step Up in Steve Smith’s Absence
Green sustained an abdominal muscle tear while batting in Potchefstroom. Inglis, meanwhile, injured his right index finger when a delivery from Mitchell Starc struck his gloves during an ODI in Durban last month. He wore a protective splint while making his first first-class appearance in seven months.
Green scored 65 and added 126 runs with Matt Renshaw for the third wicket. Inglis then remained unbeaten on 85 off 111 balls, combining with Alex Carey for a 145-run stand.
Josh Inglis Dominates Spin as Australia Build Strong Partnerships
The wicketkeeper-batter’s record against spin helped Australia counter South Africa’s tactics after the early wickets. The two century-plus stands also marked just the third occasion in Australia’s previous 31 Tests that they had recorded multiple partnerships of more than 100 runs in the same innings.
Steve Smith’s absence remains a significant setback for Australia, but the performances from Green, Inglis, Renshaw and Carey offered stability at a crucial stage of the decider.
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