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Australia vs South Africa 2026; Steve Smith returns to Cape Town, the questions Steve Smith has faced on his return to South Africa, news, analysis, feature

As Marnus Labuschagne was dreaming about a South African homecoming that has become a nightmare, he was asked about Steve Smith during a chat at the SCG last month.

By Courtney Walsh · Fox Sports

Published: Monday, 26 October 2026 at 7:00 PM

Key Things to Know

Steve Smith is set to return to Cape Town's Newlands for the first time since the 2018 sandpaper scandal.
Smith has struggled for batting form on the tour, scoring 83 runs at an average of 20.75.
Teammate Alex Carey confirmed that Smith is fully fit despite dealing with a neck injury and reduced net sessions.

The Story in 60 Seconds

Steve Smith is preparing to return to Newlands in Cape Town for the first time since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, as Australia continues its 2026 Test tour against South Africa. The 37-year-old batsman has endured a challenging series so far, managing just 83 runs at an average of 20.75 across four innings while battling a neck injury and a blow to the helmet in earlier matches.

Despite his quiet form and light training duties leading into the fixture, teammates Travis Head and Alex Carey expressed full confidence that Smith is fit and prepared for the anticipated Cape Town reception. Smith also achieved a major milestone during the tour by surpassing 11,000 career Test runs and setting a world record for non-wicketkeeper catches.

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