The third Test of the Ashes series between Australia and England got underway on Wednesday at the Adelaide Oval, with the hosts aiming to tighten their grip on the contest after dominating the opening two matches. Holding a commanding 2–0 lead, Australia entered the pink-ball Test with a golden opportunity to push England to the brink and potentially seal the series early.
However, the build-up to the match was rocked by a significant setback for the home side. Star batter Steve Smith was ruled out shortly before the start after experiencing symptoms of vertigo, dealing Australia an unexpected blow on the morning of the Test. Cricket Australia confirmed that Smith had been feeling unwell for several days, reporting nausea and dizziness that had not subsided despite close monitoring.
“Over the past few days he has been feeling unwell, with symptoms including nausea and dizziness. 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,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
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The board added that Smith is being treated for a possible vestibular issue — a condition he has dealt with intermittently in the past — and is expected to return for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Steve Smith did cop a very painful blow to his box yesterday in the nets but it might be an issue with another part of his anatomy that looks to have ruled him out of the Adelaide Test #Ashes pic.twitter.com/yD5Lev7Qhq
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) December 16, 2025
A dejected-looking Steve Smith leaves Adelaide Oval after being ruled out of the third Test 🤯 #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Q7WJ9Otx5h
— Triple M Cricket (@triplemcricket) December 16, 2025
Australia captain Pat Cummins revealed that Smith made a last-ditch attempt to prove his fitness on match morning but ultimately ran out of time. “Steve’s been feeling a bit unwell the last couple of days. 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,” Cummins said at the toss.
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In Smith’s absence, Usman Khawaja was drafted into the XI and promoted to the crucial No. 4 position. Cummins expressed confidence in the experienced opener’s ability to fill the void. “We’re pretty lucky to have someone like Usman who can step straight in. He’ll bat at No. 4,” he added.
Winning the toss, Australia opted to bat first, backing their depth and form to continue their dominance. With the series firmly in their control, the hosts will be keen to maintain momentum, while England face a must-win scenario to keep the Ashes alive.
