Steve Smith has been ruled out of Australia’s third Test decider against South Africa in Cape Town after it was confirmed late on Tuesday morning that the batter had not fully recovered from a neck injury.

Australia had given the 37-year-old the chance to prove his fitness ahead of the Test match, which would have seen Smith return to Cape Town for the first time since the infamous ‘Sandpapergate’ scandal in 2018.

Smith sustained the injury during Australia’s second Test defeat to South Africa in Gqeberha, in which the hosts levelled the series 1-1.

Smith had appeared injure himself during his first spell at the crease during that Test, with the former skipper subsequently dropped down the batting order in the second innings, as Pat Cummins’ side went on to suffer an innings and 31-run defeat.

Ahead of the third Test, Smith had complained of neck stiffness during Australia’s pre-match training session and was due to undergo a fitness test ahead of Tuesday’s match.

Cummins said that their star batter had been working to overcome the injury early on Tuesday morning, but confirmed at the toss that Smith would be one of four changes to the Australia XI.

“He had a little try this morning,” Cummins told SuperSport. “But he wasn’t happy with how his neck was feeling, so we had to look elsewhere.”

Cameron Green returns to the side and slot in at No 4 in place of Smith. Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon also come into the starting XI.

Beau Webster, Scott Boland and Nic Maddinson miss out, while Matt Renshaw opens for Australia in Maddinson’s place.

More to follow…

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