Steve Smith Ruled Out Until New Zealand Tests as Scans Confirm Neck Injury

Cape Town: Steve Smith has been ruled out for the rest of Australia’s Test series in South Africa after scans confirmed a cervical facet joint injury in his neck, with Cricket Australia targeting his return for the home series against New Zealand in December. Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week and was a late withdrawal from the series decider at Newlands in Cape Town, which began on Tuesday. Subsequent MRI imaging confirmed the injury, and with his range of motion limited, he was declared unfit to participate in the current Test. “Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week,” Cricket Australia said in a statement. “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.” The board added that Smith will continue to receive treatment and rehabilitation, “with a full return to availability anticipated for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand.” Smith’s absence opened the door for Josh Inglis, who was recalled at the eleventh hour and seized his chance in spectacular fashion, scoring a century in the Newlands decider as Australia took control on day three: https://t20star.com/lyon-and-starc-strike-late-as-australia-seize-control-on-day-3-of-newlands-decider/ Inglis, playing his first Test since the Ashes series in Adelaide last year, made 102 off 135 balls, with Alex Carey adding 80, as Australia built a first-innings lead before Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon struck late to leave South Africa 40 runs ahead with six wickets down at stumps. The injury is a significant blow for Australia at a crucial point in the World Test Championship cycle, with the Newlands Test deciding the three-match series after Australia won the opener by 214 runs and South Africa hit back with an innings-and-31-run win in the second Test. Smith’s experience at No. 4 has been central to Australia’s batting for more than a decade, and his recovery will now be managed with the New Zealand series — the next assignment on Australia’s home calendar — as the target. For now, Australia must finish the job in Cape Town without him, with Inglis’s unexpected century having already softened the blow of losing one of the modern greats mid-series.