Australian cricketer Steve Smith was ruled out of the third Test against South Africa due to a neck injury.

What it means

Steve Smith, Australia's star batsman, was ruled out of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa in Cape Town due to a neck injury sustained shortly before the match. He was a late withdrawal, replaced in the playing XI, delivering a significant blow to Australia as the series is tied 1-1.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solid, based on official team announcements and confirmed by multiple reputable cricket outlets (ESPNcricinfo, Sky Sports, ABC News) that all report the same specifics: a neck injury, late withdrawal, and replacement by Josh Inglis. The reporting sits close to the primary source (Cricket Australia/team management), meeting the 'reputable secondary' tier.

How new

Genuinely new — the story broke on 26–27 October 2026, the day of the match.

Go deeper

• ABC News Australia (Top) — first to publish