2 hours ago
3
ARTICLE AD BOX
Australia's captain Steve Smith plays a shot during the second Ashes cricket test match between Australia and England in Brisbane, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo)
Steve Smith withdrew from the third Test of the Ashes series against England on the morning of the opening day’s play. Cricket Australia has confirmed Smith had been suffering from “nausea and dizziness” in the lead-up to his shock withdrawal from the Adelaide Test.
The late withdrawal allowed Usman Khawaja a rare opportunity to play in the series, which he has grabbed with both hands, leading Australia on a tricky day’s play thus far. Khawaja had started slowly and had reached 5 from 27 balls when Harry Brook dropped a regulation catch at second slip. From that moment on, Khawaja changed his intent, and started to hit more shots.
Smith had even done his warm-ups at the Adelaide Oval, but had to leave the stadium after a chat with the coach Andrew McDonald. Smith had led Australia in the first two Tests, but luckily, for them, Pat Cummins had come back for this game to take over the leadership role.
Smith has been feeling unwell in the last few days. “Over the past few days he has been feeling unwell, with symptoms including nausea and dizziness,” a Cricket Australia statement said. “He 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.
“He 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.”
Cummins shared his relief that Usman Khawaja was ready to take over at such a short notice. “Steve is feeling a little bit unwell the last couple of days,” captain Pat Cummins said. He came and gave it a crack this morning but didn’t think he was going to get up for this one so he’s headed off home. But we’re pretty lucky we have got someone like Usman who can step right in.”
Smith’s loss is a huge blow as Stuart Broad had spoken him as the thorn in England’s flesh. “To win the series, we have to keep him (Smith’s average) to under 50, don’t we? ” Broad said on the ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast, which he co-hosts alongside Jos Buttler. “He’s gonna score a hundred, it’s what he does. (If) he averages 40, that’s at least 15 under his career average, so you’re doing brilliantly. I think you have to get him early,” he added. “If England aren’t celebrating in his first 40 runs, it’s going to be a long series.
Story continues below this ad
“Obviously his technique has changed throughout, but I still can’t sit here and go ‘well this is how you get him out’. That’s an unbelievable strength of his. He’s incredibly difficult to bowl at. Sometimes you don’t feel like you’ve bowled a bad ball and it still goes for four,” he added.
English (US) ·