Last Updated on 43 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
Steve Smith is expected to bat on day five in Gqeberha as Australia attempt to escape with a draw. He is yet to bat in the second innings due to a neck complaint, which he was struggling with in the first innings.
Pat Cummins’ team had a horror day on Wednesday, losing 13 wickets to put the rain-affected Test right in South Africa’s hands. They’ll need a huge effort to save the match on the final day, and Smith will likely have to play a vital role with Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Matt Renshaw and Beau Webster already dismissed.
Smith was in clear discomfort on the field. Soon after facing 50 balls during Australia’s paltry first innings total of 99, Smith received attention from the physiotherapist and was not his usual self thereafter, playing a host of loose shots before he was dismissed for a 88-ball 28.
Steve Smith didn’t bat on day four due to neck issue, but is expected to bat on day five
Australia were asked to follow on after trailing by 326 runs on the first innings. Coach Andrew McDonald said the decision to withhold Smith was for him to get more physio treatment.
“We felt it was best to hopefully get the batting unit through to tomorrow [day five] and then hopefully he’s better placed,” McDonald said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
“We’ve seen the physio working on him, so he’ll bat tomorrow. It’s not something that will rule him out of the innings, but it was just a little bit more time than we expected on the back of the first innings.
“Sometimes he changes his technique when he’s fully fit too, but he was limited in what he could do.”
Australia finally showed some resistance via a 92-run stand between Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. However, the latter’s rush of blood threw a spanner in the works, with the quality South African attack taking a further two wickets. The visitors finished day four at 156/4, still trailing by 170 runs as Smith watched on with a neck cushion.
“I have great belief and trust in the skill sets in that room, and in particular tomorrow, we’ll go out there and potentially turn this one around,” McDonald said.
“If that doesn’t unfold, we’ll go to Cape Town and we’ll reload. We’ll go again.
“A great strength of this group is on significant setbacks – and I’ll say this is a significant setback – we’ve been able to respond.”
Travis Head is unbeaten on 87 and needs to add plenty more if Australia are to travel to Cape Town with a 1-0 series lead. Smith and Alex Carey are the only other recognised batsmen left, with Scott Boland not out on two as the nightwatchman.
