Smith ruled out of Cape Town Test due to late injury

Steve Smith has been ruled out of Australia's series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town due to a neck injury. Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed at the toss that the 37-year-old failed a fitness test on Tuesday morning after struggling with stiffness sustained in the second Test defeat in Gqeberha. The match would have marked Smith's first appearance at Newlands since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Cameron Green replaces Smith at number four as part of four lineup changes made by Australia. Josh Inglis, Cooper Connolly, and Nathan Lyon also entered the side, while Beau Webster, Scott Boland, and Nic Maddinson were omitted. Australia won the toss and elected to field first.