{"id":353044,"date":"2025-12-17T03:15:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T03:15:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/353044\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T03:15:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T03:15:10","slug":"steve-smith-out-of-adelaide-test-injury-usman-khawaja-recalled-australian-starting-xi-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/353044\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve Smith out of Adelaide Test, injury, Usman Khawaja recalled, Australian starting XI, video"},"content":{"rendered":"

Steve Smith has officially been ruled out of the third Test<\/a> in a shock 11th-hour twist that sees Usman Khawaja return to Australia\u2019s set up.<\/p>\n

The stand-in captain for the first two Tests of this summer\u2019s Ashes was seen having intense dialogue with Andrew McDonald and Pat Cummins on Wednesday morning, where the trio look to have made a final call on his availability.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe walked away disconsolate after that discussion,\u201d Kerry O\u2019Keeffe noted after witnessing the discussion. <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Watch The Ashes 2025\/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1 ><\/a><\/p>\n

Smith missed training on Monday with illness, however returned to bat in the Adelaide Oval nets on Tuesday morning,<\/a> seemingly removing any doubt over his spot in the side. <\/p>\n

But in dramatic scenes, Smith walked across the ground with his backpack on just 20 minutes before the toss, seemingly confirming his fate that sees Khawaja return to the side in the unlikeliest of ways.<\/p>\n

In a statement provided to media by Cricket Australia after the toss, both nauseau and dizziness were revealed as the former captain\u2019s main symptoms that ultimately ruled him out of the match.<\/p>\n

\u201cSteve Smith was ruled out of the third NRMA Ashes test in Adelaide today. Over the past few days he has been feeling unwell, with symptoms including nausea and dizziness,\u201d the statement read.<\/p>\n

True Blue tribute for Bondi victims | 04:23<\/p>\n

\u201cHe was assessed and monitored closely and was close to being available to play. However, given the persistence of symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is being treated for a potential vestibular issue. This is something Steve has experienced intermittently in the past and is being managed accordingly. He is expected to be available for the Boxing Day test in Melbourne.\u201d<\/p>\n

Outside of a rogue knock to the lower torso, Smith batted and moved well in the nets just 24 hours before the first ball, as Khawaja practiced in the fair net against the side-arm and local Sturt spinner Lachlan Ranaldo.<\/p>\n

Australia’s batsman Steve Smith. Photo by William WEST \/ AFPSource: AFP<\/p>\n

During the toss, Cummins confirmed Smith was feeling \u201cunwell\u201d, with multiple reports since confirming the right-hander has suffered another bout of vertigo.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe came and gave it a crack this morning, but didn\u2019t think he was going to get up for this one. He\u2019s heading off home,\u201d Cummins said at the toss.<\/p>\n

\u201cPretty lucky we\u2019ve got someone like Usman (Khawaja) who can step right in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Khawaja will fill the 36-year-old\u2019s void directly at number four in the batting order, with Jake Weatherald and Travis Head to continue their role as Australia\u2019s openers.<\/p>\n

In 153 Test innings, Khawaja has batted just twice in the number four position that has been held by Smith for so many years now.<\/p>\n

Ironically, one of those two innings came in the first Test match this summer, where Khawaja was unable to open after back spasms prevented him from opening the batting in Perth.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a big blow for that order, a little bit disruptive as well,\u201d Australian great Alyssa Healy told Fox Cricket after the coin toss, which will see the Aussies bat first.<\/p>\n

\u201cI tend to agree to an extent with putting Usman at four. It probably disrupts the others less so, so that might be the best way to look at it.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s got an opportunity to bat again for Australia, and he\u2019s going to grab it with both hands.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Steve Smith has officially been ruled out of the third Test in a shock 11th-hour twist that sees…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":353045,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[43,44,85,41,39,42,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-353044","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-headlines","8":"tag-headlines","9":"tag-news","10":"tag-sports","11":"tag-top-news","12":"tag-top-stories","13":"tag-topnews","14":"tag-topstories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353044","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=353044"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353044\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/353045"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=353044"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=353044"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=353044"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}