Australia rules Steve Smith out of the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town after he fails a late fitness assessment for a neck injury, leaving him unavailable for the series finale.
Multiple outlets report the decision comes late as the decider approaches, with Steve Smith previously expected to play. Sky News and Sky Sports specify that the confirmation arrives late on Tuesday morning and frames it as a late withdrawal from the Newlands match. Several live-blog focused outlets emphasise the shock and the pressure of a series with everything at stake. Yahoo Sports and The Independent echo the core point: Smith fails a late fitness test.
Other coverage adds context. The Guardian notes Smith suffered the neck injury in the second Test and that captain Pat Cummins says the team aims to give Smith time to prove his fitness ahead of Newlands. Times of India reports Cummins’ approach to lineup planning, describing delayed decisions and possible middle-order changes as the third Test nears.
