Severity of Steve Smith’s neck injury revealed after late withdrawal

Conjecture around Steve Smith’s fitness has ended with Cricket Australia announcing he has a cervical facet joint injury after his late withdrawal from the third Test.

Smith battled a neck injury in the second Test and was noticeably uneasy at the crease. At one stage he was captured in the pavilion with a neck brace around his neck.

The star batter was given until the morning of the third Test to prove his fitness and was captured with a heat pack around his neck at the Newlands ground.

Reports from Newlands stated Smith ruled himself out despite Australia’s staff clearing him to play.

Cricket Australia has since released a statement confirming the severity of the injury.

“Steve Smith developed neck pain on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha last week,” the statement read.

“Subsequent MRI imaging confirmed a cervical facet joint injury. Due to this and his limited range of motion he was unfit to participate in the current Test.”

Smith is expected to be fit to play for the home Tests against New Zealand, which start on December 9.

After day one at stumps, Mitchell Starc said he was unaware of Smith’s unavailability until the warm-up.

“Didn’t know anything about it until – well, I sort of knew something was going on yesterday when I was trying to get my laundry at the hotel and I couldn’t get in the room,” Starc said.

“But I didn’t know he wasn’t playing until I went out to warm up today.

“He’s obviously been battling that neck since last week. I think I don’t actually know what happened with that, and I haven’t asked. He seems upbeat enough, but I don’t know what treatment or what he’s had done with it so far.”

Smith’s replacement, Josh Inglis, proved his worth on day two, pushing past the half-century mark in his side’s first innings. Cam Green moved to No.4 in Smith’s spot and scored 65.