Third Ashes test: Steve Smith aiming for a Boxing Day return after being ruled out of 3rd

Steve Smith is aiming to beryllium backmost successful Ashes enactment for Australia connected Boxing Day aft being ruled retired soon earlier play started Wednesday (December 17, 2025) successful the 3rd trial astatine Adelaide.

Smith was talking to Australian manager Andrew McDonald connected the tract successful the hr earlier the flip of the coin, erstwhile it appeared the last determination was made to permission him retired of the XI truthful helium tin proceed recovering from dizziness and nausea.

That allowed Usman Khawaja an unexpected callback for Australia, batting astatine No. 4 to regenerate Smith alternatively than opening the innings.

Australian squad absorption aboriginal said Smith was being treated for a “potential vestibular issue” successful the interior ear, ruling retired speculation that the prima batter had sustained a concussion during a nett signifier session.

He practised with the Australia squad connected Saturday (December 13), and Sunday (December 15) skipped Monday's (December 15) session, but returned connected Tuesday (December 16) and batted again successful the nets connected Wednesday (December 16) morning.

“Steve is feeling a small spot unwell the past mates of days,” returning skipper Pat Cummins said astatine the coin toss. "He came and gave it a ace this greeting but didn't deliberation helium was going to get up for this one, truthful he's headed disconnected home.”

“But we're beauteous fortunate we person got idiosyncratic similar Usman who tin measurement close in.”

Team absorption said Smith, who has dealt with vertigo symptoms successful the past, is apt to instrumentality for the 4th trial starting December 26 astatine the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“He was assessed and monitored intimately and was adjacent to being disposable to play," Australian squad absorption said successful a statement. “However, fixed the persistence of symptoms, a determination was made not to proceed.”

Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins successful Perth and Brisbane successful the lack of Cummins. He deed the winning runs successful Brisbane arsenic Australia took a 2-0 pb successful the five-match series.

Cummins won the flip and elected to bat archetypal successful Adelaide, his archetypal trial since sustaining a backmost wounded successful July. England needs a triumph successful the 3rd trial to person immoderate accidental of reclaiming the Ashes.