Australia’s Steve Smith (AP)
The 37-year-old experienced neck pain on the fourth day of the second Test in Gqeberha last week and was subsequently ruled unfit for the series decider. In Smith’s absence, Josh Inglis was brought into the side and made the most of his opportunity, scoring an unbeaten 85 as Australia reached 330/4 in reply to South Africa’s first-innings total of 329. Due to this and his limited range of motion, he was unfit to participate in the current Test.
Australian batter Steve Smith has been ruled out of selection until the home Test series against New Zealand in December after scans confirmed a cervical facet joint injury in his neck. “Subsequent MRI imaging confirmed a cervical facet joint injury.
“Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “Steve will continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation, with a full return to availability anticipated for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand,” the statement added. “He is a very talented player, we have seen that across a lot of the white-ball formats,” Renshaw said.
Cricket Australia revealed the extent of Smith’s injury after he was forced to withdraw from the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, which began on Tuesday.