Smith's match-eve frustration adds to selection puzzle

The sight of a frustrated Steve Smith abruptly leaving his match-eve fitness test has deepened Australia's top-order selection concerns for the series decider in Cape Town.

Captain Pat Cummins said on Monday they were yet to settle on an XI, describing Smith's fitness as the "last piece of the puzzle" with the visitors desperately hopeful their star No.4 would be able to overcome a neck issue. 

"Hopefully all goes well and he'll be there," Cummins told reporters before Australia's training session. 

But Smith was clearly still affected by the issue. He was the first of the Aussies into the nets on Monday afternoon and exclusively faced the sidearm thrower from assistant coach Michael Di Venuto.

After hitting for just over half an hour, during which time he was left annoyed at being hit by a ball that kept low, Smith took a break on a seat at the back of the nets. Before he stopped hitting, some shots caused him to grimace and exhale loudly.

He tilted his head from side to side, stretching his troublesome neck that flared up during the second Test in Gqeberha. Coach Andrew McDonald and team doctor Leigh Golding both checked on the 37-year-old, who appeared in some discomfort.

Smith then returned to the nets but lasted only a few more minutes. After a swivelled pull shot, he threw his head back in annoyance and two balls later, what looked like a rudimentary forward defence prompted him to drop his bat on the crease, kick the ground and begin a swift exit.

On his way out of the nets area, Smith had another conversation with the doctor before leaving the two-minute chat shaking his head.

Halfway back to the Newlands changerooms, Smith spoke to McDonald, selection chair George Bailey and Josh Inglis in a brief interaction before he stomped up the stairs of the players' race. 

The veteran batter has battled several ailments throughout the Test series, beginning with a blow to the helmet in the first Test in Durban. He was hit in head attempting to duck an Anrich Nortje bouncer in the second innings and was kept off the field as medical staff checked for signs of concussion.

In Gqeberha, an ongoing neck issue flared up during the first innings and forced him down to No.7 in the order for the second dig.

"He's been batting really well," Cummins said of Smith. "In that first Test I thought he looked in total control until he found the outside edge on one ball. But as a teammate looking from afar, he looks in total control of how he's going about his work.

"He's 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. Even though he's probably not going to be 100 per cent, hopefully he can compartmentalise like he's done many times before." 

Both Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green were absent for Australia's optional Monday session, Matthew Renshaw faced a new ball throughout his net, while Cooper Connolly also had a brief hit. 

On the prospect of playing the Test without Beau Webster's seamers, Cummins left the door ajar. 

"We're always pretty open to to anything." Cummins said. "We've played Test matches where we've had four bowlers, no allrounders. So everything's on the table." 

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster