Steve Smith has been sensationally ruled out of the third Test in Adelaide after he was feeling unwell leading into the match. This comes as Aussie cricket fans rallied around Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett after they were both unfortunate to miss out on selection.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald revealed to the cricket community Smith was feeling unwell heading into the Adelaide clash having missed training on Monday. While he was expected to play, speculation on Wednesday morning suggested Smith had been ruled out with Usman Khawaja to replace him.
“He was talking with McDonald and Cummins before leaving the field. Smith would have to be on his death bed to miss a Test like this,” Gerard Whateley said on SEN Radio.
Usman Khawaja (pictured right) set to replace Steve Smith (pictured left) with the batter ruled out of the third Test. (Images: Getty Images)
Former Australian opener Simon Katich said Smith didn’t look well. “Judging by that vision, Smith didn’t look that well really. I don’t know if its illness or concussion,” Katich added. “We will find out soon but it doesn’t look good. Khawaja is out there and strapping his fingers, that’s gives away a few signs. Looks like there is a late change.”
Commentator Kerry O’Keefe claimed it could have been a concussion that has potentially ruled him out. “Steve Smith has had a long discussion with Pat Cummins regarding his fitness for this game. He walked away disconsolate after the discussion. There was a suggestion that he was hit in the head at training. That there may be a possibility of a concussion. Everything is unconfirmed at this stage,” O’Keefe said about a potential change to the team.
SEN Radio later confirmed Smith was leaving the Adelaide Oval with a backpack having been ruled out only an hour before the toss. Khawaja was the confirmed replacement for Smith in the Australian XI, but where he bats is unknown.
Michael Neser dropped from Aussie XI
Neser was sensationally selected instead of Nathan Lyon in a move that divided Aussie fans. However, the allrounder was the star with the pink ball having taken five wickets in the fourth innings to seal the home side’s win. Although his efforts with the ball were not enough to save him from the axe for Adelaide. Neser made way for Lyon ahead of the third Test with captain Pat Cummins also coming back into the side for Doggett.
Both selections were expected with Cummins missing the first two Tests as he recovered from a back injury. Lyon was always coming back in for Adelaide with the pitch expecting to favour the batters, before spin comes into the contest.
Aussie cricket fans rallied around Michael Neser (pictured) after he was dropped for the Adelaide Test.
But Neser’s exclusion is still a blow for the allrounder. Few bowlers are ever dropped after taking a five-wicket haul. The returning captain admitted the Australian squad has done so well across the first two Test matches that he feels the home side is only peaking in Adelaide.
“It has almost worked out perfectly: we’re halfway through a series and I come back online and we have got Nes (Michael Neser) and Doggy (Brendan Doggett) who are resting from this week but have obviously got themselves into the series and they will look to the last two games,” he said on Tuesday.
“We have seen Jhye Richardson out the back bowling (at training). It feels like everything has come together and we’re not just hanging on until the end of the series, which sometimes you are. We’re actually peaking and hopefully have heaps of resources available.”
Doggett has also played the first two Test matches and doing a great job in backing-up Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland. The quick has taken seven wickets across the first two Ashes Tests with his efforts in Perth a standout. And both were deemed unfortunate to miss out with Australia’s bowling depth on show ahead of Adelaide.