- Smith faces a fitness test before deciding the Test series in Ce Town. Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were released from the Test squad to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. Chennai, October 8, 2023 3 in the absence of Ishan Kishan NZ vs Ind – New Zealand coach Rob Walter is dispointed that New Zealand failed to citalize on their chances in the first two T20Is. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter says the rotation of quicks is not a “perfect science” but is key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India. Glenn Phillips prepares to play catch-up, New Zealand v India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. India’s return to Christchurch showed three players starting to carry the burden of an irreplaceable all-rounder. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete winning streak, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Kyle Jamieson will leave the T20I squad after the third match and Blair Tickner will join the team for the final three matches. Harry Brook speaks to his bowler Gus Atkinson, Pakistan v England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026. Ayub expressed to coach Mike Hesson his “desire to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form and regain confidence”. Saim Ayub talked about his 30-ball half-century, Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd T20I, Lahore, February 1, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket to take the win, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf wrote an incredible stand for the tenth wicket, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible win, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India. A revival Devdutt Padikkal conjures a maiden century in just his third Test, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Galle, Day 1, 15th August 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, 25th October 2026 Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper have been released from the Test squad to to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. Steven Smith was hit on the fingers while trying to make a low catch at slip, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026. With a series win in sight, Rickelton says South Africa want to secure their WTC title by October 25, 2026. Beat the best and prove their credentials Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma have revived South Africa, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 2nd Day, October 19, 2026 SA vs AUS Newlands Test – Cameron Green available, preferred no.
- 4 or 5, but leaves the final decision for Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close encounter in the 27th match, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Steven Smith hit in the ankles while trying to make a low catch at slip, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026 Steven Smith is to undergo a fitness test with a problematic neck ahead of the Australian Test. crucial in the series against South Africa at Ce Town, while Nic Maddinson’s omission from the game was confirmed.
- The opener returns to Australia to be available for New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield game on Friday.
Smith faces a fitness test before deciding the Test series in Ce Town. Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were released from the Test squad to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. Chennai, October 8, 2023 3 in the absence of Ishan Kishan NZ vs Ind – New Zealand coach Rob Walter is dispointed that New Zealand failed to citalize on their chances in the first two T20Is. New Zealand head coach Rob Walter says the rotation of quicks is not a “perfect science” but is key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India. Glenn Phillips prepares to play catch-up, New Zealand v India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. India’s return to Christchurch showed three players starting to carry the burden of an irreplaceable all-rounder. Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete winning streak, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026. Kyle Jamieson will leave the T20I squad after the third match and Blair Tickner will join the team for the final three matches. Harry Brook speaks to his bowler Gus Atkinson, Pakistan v England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026. Ayub expressed to coach Mike Hesson his “desire to return to domestic cricket to work on his batting form and regain confidence”. Saim Ayub talked about his 30-ball half-century, Pakistan vs Australia, 3rd T20I, Lahore, February 1, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket to take the win, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf wrote an incredible stand for the tenth wicket, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible win, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India. A revival Devdutt Padikkal conjures a maiden century in just his third Test, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Galle, Day 1, 15th August 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, 25th October 2026 Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper have been released from the Test squad to to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. Steven Smith was hit on the fingers while trying to make a low catch at slip, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026. With a series win in sight, Rickelton says South Africa want to secure their WTC title by October 25, 2026. Beat the best and prove their credentials Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma have revived South Africa, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 2nd Day, October 19, 2026 SA vs AUS Newlands Test – Cameron Green available, preferred no.
4 or 5, but leaves the final decision for Australia. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close encounter in the 27th match, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Steven Smith hit in the ankles while trying to make a low catch at slip, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026 Steven Smith is to undergo a fitness test with a problematic neck ahead of the Australian Test. crucial in the series against South Africa at Ce Town, while Nic Maddinson’s omission from the game was confirmed. The opener returns to Australia to be available for New South Wales’ next Sheffield Shield game on Friday. Sam Harper, who was called up as wicketkeeper when Josh Inglis broke a finger, is also leaving the tour to be available for Victoria’s next Shield game against Queensland from Saturday.
Inglis was allowed to take the wicket again if Alex Carey got into trouble. The exit of Maddinson, who scored 0, 48, 0 and 8 in his four innings in the series following his surprise recall, means Matt Renshaw will return to the top of the order as Travis Head’s partner. The most important aspect for Australia’s final eleven, however, is the fitness of Smith, who has been hampered by a neck problem with Gqeberha and will complete a full session at the net on Monday.
He fought sidearm throws from Michael Di Venuto for just 15 minutes on Sunday without wearing his helmet. “We think there will be a pretty steep progression in terms of his availability,” head coach Andrew McDonald said. “But if we are surprised today, you will see it.” Should Smith be unable to take his spot, it would likely ensure Marnus Labuschagne retains his spot amid debate over his future at No. 1.
Selectors met on Monday morning to select the eleven before the team’s final training session at Newlands in the afternoon. “I don’t know if I have anything more to add than what everyone has said in the last [period],” Electoral Commission Chairman George Bailey said of Labuschagne. “We’ve seen some good things.
Is there currently a blockage around the 30s? [He] continues to contribute with his ability to pass a range of balls. “So it’s a matter of deciding what it will look like when he goes back [into his 30s], what it will look like for the collective and whether it will help others around him [and] the team to get the result that we ultimately want? Nic Maddinson’s Test return scores were 0, 48, 0 and 8, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Bailey drove Meanwhile, Fort stood by the decision to call up Maddinson for the tour, insisting that the South Africa experience would not necessarily mean the end of his Test career.
“I think in terms of performance… would you like to race more? So that’s okay,” Bailey said. “It allowed us to set up the rest of the team the way we wanted while working with the group we have, yeah.
“We always talk about what we see when we see the best players. I think you got a taste of it in the second round in Durban. So there’s a message for him.
When he returned home, I wanted to make it clear to him that it was not an obstacle, but that it was abandonment. “The same reasons and the same process we worked on to bring it to the table here and ultimately play it, these will be the same questions we will be asking all summer long at home in India.” Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were released from the Test squad to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. Steven Smith was hit on the fingers while trying to take a low catch at slip, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, 20 October 2026 History: History: History: 1560077+ SA vs Aus – 3rd WTC Test – Steven Smith faces fitness test in crucial decider of Test series in Ce Town | Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were released from the Test squad to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield. Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper were released from the Test squad to play for their respective teams in the Sheffield Shield.
