Australian batter Steve Smith was ruled out of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands after MRI scans confirmed a cervical facet joint injury in his neck. Cricket Australia said Smith would continue treatment and rehabilitation, with a return expected for the Test series against New Zealand.
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.
Steve Smith first experienced neck pain on the fourth day of the second Test in Gqeberha. He struggled during his first innings and dropped to No. 7 in the second innings. Scans conducted after Australia arrived in Cape Town confirmed an injury to the cervical facet joint.
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.
After an extended net session on Sunday, he ended his practice early and later withdrew following a brief hit on Monday morning while wearing a neck bandage. Cricket Australia confirmed the diagnosis in a statement.
"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.
"Steve will continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation, with a full return to availability anticipated for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand."
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
Steve Smith’s late withdrawal brought Josh Inglis into the starting XI at No. 5, while Cameron Green moved up to No. 4. Both players had recently dealt with injuries of their own, making their contributions particularly significant in a series-deciding Test.
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.
Australia had named only their third top order without Smith in their previous 64 Tests. Despite losing two early wickets, the visitors recovered through two major partnerships at Newlands.
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
Josh Inglis handled South Africa’s spin approach effectively, particularly against Simon Harmer. He faced 79 deliveries from the spinner before the second new ball. In first-class cricket over the past three years, Inglis has averaged 73.50 against spin.
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.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma initially held back Marco Jansen, saving the fast bowler for the second new ball. However, Inglis attacked the new ball, scoring 35 runs off as many deliveries against it. Bavuma returned to Harmer just seven overs later.
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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