Steve Smith Out of Action Due to Neck Injury Ahead of New Zealand Test Series

Australian cricketer Steve Smith has been ruled out of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand due to a cervical facet joint injury sustained during the second Test against South Africa. Cricket Australia has confirmed the seriousness of his condition and outlined a timeline for his recovery. In his absence, Josh Inglis has stepped up, showcasing his talent with a solid performance in the ongoing match. This article delves into the implications of Smith's injury and the current state of the Australian team as they face South Africa.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 29, 2026, 11:05 IST

Steve Smith's Injury Update

Cape Town, South Africa - October 29: Australian cricketer Steve Smith has been diagnosed with a cervical facet joint injury in his neck, ruling him out of selection until the home Test series against New Zealand in December.

After Smith was unable to participate in the series decider against South Africa in Cape Town, Cricket Australia disclosed the severity of his injury and outlined a timeline for his return to the national team.

The injury occurred during the second Test match against South Africa, leading to his late withdrawal from the final match that began on Tuesday.

Medical scans revealed the cervical facet joint injury, and as a result, Smith will not be available for selection until the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.

Cricket Australia confirmed, "Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week. 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 statement further indicated that Smith will undergo treatment and rehabilitation, with expectations for his full return in time for the home Test series against New Zealand.

In Smith's absence, Josh Inglis stepped up to the plate, scoring an impressive 85* as Australia ended the first innings at 330/4, just one run ahead of South Africa. Other notable contributions came from Matt Renshaw (74), Cameron Green (65), and Alex Carey (51*), while Marnus Labuschagne struggled with a score of 0.

Earlier, South Africa batted first, finishing at 329 all out, with significant contributions from Aiden Markram (78), Marques Ackermann (95), and Marco Jansen (52), before Mitchell Starc took 6 wickets for 72 runs.

This match marked Inglis' first Test since playing against England during the Ashes series in Adelaide last year, and teammate Matthew Renshaw expressed confidence in his abilities, stating, "He is a very talented player, we have seen that across a lot of the white-ball formats. To come in today, we were under a little bit of pressure, having lost two quick wickets, and the way that he played was really positive – it was a very Josh innings, and I think it was really what we needed at that time."