Australia vs South Africa 2026; Steve Smith’s neck injury revealed, could Steve Smith have played against the Proteas in Cape Town, when will Steve Smith next play, news, analysis

The mystery neck problem that forced Steve Smith out of the Cape Town Test has been revealed as what Cricket Australia is calling a cervical facet joint injury.

The withdrawal of the champion on the morning of the deciding Test of the series against the Proteas in the city where he has a torrid personal history prompted significant discussion amid the lack of clarity surrounding the injury.

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Teammates including captain Pat Cummins and star fast bowler Mitchell Starc had expected Smith, who has looked uncomfortable at the crease since suffering the injury in Gqeberha last week, to feature in what is an evenly-poised battle.

“So he’s huge, you know, one of the greatest batters we’ve ever had. You don’t play 100 odd Test matches without playing Test matches where you’re not 100 per cent fit. So hopefully that’s the case this week,” Cummins said.

“Even though he’s probably not going to be 100 per cent, but hopefully he can compartmentalise that, like he’s done many times before with other things, and can come out and yeah contribute like he does every week.”

But after an extended stint in the nets on Sunday, which he ended abruptly after kicking the crease several times when bowled by a delivery from a wanger, the champion pulled out after a brief hit while wearing a neck bandage on Monday.

That prompted a late reshuffle of the batting order, with Josh Inglis brought into the team and Cameron Green elevated to No.4, and arguably the curious decision by Cummins to bowl instead of bat after winning the toss.

Medical websites said the injury can be caused by a sudden action like whiplash, with the problem occurring when Smith was jolted by a delivery in Gqeberha, and traditional treatment includes physiotherapy and medication.

Smith was spotted returning to the Newlands Cricket Ground at lunch today by Code Sports reporter Daniel Cherny, a regular guest on Fox Cricket podcast The Follow On, but that was reportedly unrelated to treatment for the problem.

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A spokesman for CA said that the 37-year-old underwent scans on his neck several days ago which revealed the problem, but there is no clarity as to how severe the injury is other that it forced Smith to rule himself out of playing.

Smith raised questions as to how long he would continue playing Test cricket in an interview in September, saying he assessed his future on a series-by-series basis, but CA said it is anticipated he will make a full recovery for the New Zealand series.

The superstar initially hurt his neck when batting early in the second Test at St George’s Park and was clearly compromised despite being the top-scorer with 28 in the collapse for 99 that cost the Australia’s the second Test.

He subsequently dropped down the order for the second innings but was clearly compromised and lost his wicket to nemesis Kagiso Rabada with an uncharacteristically loose shot.

After a quiet session in the nets on Saturday where batting coach Michael Di Veneto lobbed him full-pitched throw downs, the session on Sunday was more extensive but he was clearly frustrated with the way he was feeling.

“Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week,” the statement from Cricket Australia read.

“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.”

Australian coach Andrew McDonald said in a briefing with journalists in Cape Town on Monday, prior to Smith going through a fitness test, that he hoped the nation’s third-highest scoring Test batsman continued for a long while to come.

“It’ll be a big loss, no doubt, when he goes to fill the space of runs there,” said McDonald, as reported by cricket.com.au

“It’s probably going to be more of a collective to bridge the gap between a player that’s averaged 55 and whoever comes in – and not putting the expectations on that player that replaces him at four to be able to do that.

“If the day comes where he does decide to retire, then we’ll celebrate it and hopefully it can be seen as a celebration rather than shifting to what’s next.

“Let’s just sit in this moment of how good this player has been – arguably our greatest player of all time with the bat. I’m not ready for that moment yet, though.”