Steve Smith's neck scan identifies joint injury as Australia eyes New Zealand return
Cricket Australia expects Smith to be available for its home Test series against New Zealand after a neck injury kept him out of the South Africa decider.
Steve Smith's neck scans identified a cervical facet joint injury after he missed Australia's deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town, Reuters reported on 29 October. Cricket Australia expects the batter to return to availability for the home series against New Zealand, which starts in Perth on 9 December.
Cricket Australia said Smith would continue treatment and rehabilitation, with a full return to availability anticipated for the upcoming series. His place in the Perth Test remains dependent on his recovery. Reuters reported that the scans cleared the 37-year-old of serious neck damage; the injured joint helps stabilise movement in the neck.
Why Smith missed the South Africa decider
Smith had been dealing with neck soreness for several days before the third Test. His trouble began during the second Test in Gqeberha, according to an AAP report published by ABC News. Australian team officials said he underwent scans on Friday, 23 October, before his unsuccessful attempt to make the Cape Town match, AAP reported. Cricket Australia said the injury and his limited range of motion left him unfit to play.
AAP reported that Smith batted in the nets on the Sunday before the match, stopped to stretch his neck, returned briefly and then left. He tried batting again about 90 minutes before play on Tuesday but could not get his neck right. Our earlier report covered his omission from the South Africa decider; the scan finding and Cricket Australia's recovery expectation are the developments since then.
With Smith unavailable, Cameron Green returned from injury and batted in Smith's usual number four position in Cape Town, Reuters reported. Australia will host New Zealand in four Tests, beginning at Perth Stadium. The expected return would bring Smith back ahead of a busy stretch of Test cricket for Australia.
Australia's Test schedule after Perth
AAP reported that the New Zealand series precedes a five-Test tour of India scheduled from 21 January to 3 March. A 150th anniversary Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is scheduled for 11–15 March. Australia would have 10 Tests across roughly 14 weeks from the Perth opener through the England match, making Smith's availability significant beyond the first match of the home summer.
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Sources and context
- Australia's Smith cleared of serious neck injury, set to play in first NZ testReuters, carried by CNA
- Scans reveal extent of Steve Smith's neck injury ahead of Test summerABC News Australia (AAP credit in article)
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.