Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town will determine the series outcome, with both teams locked at one victory apiece heading to Newlands. The match runs from October 27 to 31, and the squad composition remains fluid as the team management assesses player availability ahead of the final XI selection on Monday morning.
Steven Smith's participation hinges on his ability to complete a full net session on Monday. The batter was restricted by neck stiffness during the second Test in Gqeberha and did not bat late on the fourth day of that match. On Sunday, he managed only 15 minutes of batting practice, facing throws from Michael Di Venuto without wearing protective headgear.
"We feel like it's going to be a pretty steep progression in terms of [whether] he should be available. But if we're surprised today, you'll see that play out," said Andrew McDonald as quoted by Cricinfo.
What does Maddinson's departure mean?
Matt Renshaw will return to open the innings alongside Travis Head. Nic Maddinson's omission from the third Test has been confirmed after his shock recall to the squad. Across four innings in the series, Maddinson scored 0, 48, 0 and 8 runs.
"I think performance-wise… would you like more runs in it? Yes. So that's okay. It did allow us to set the rest of the team up the way that we wanted to whilst we were working with the group we have, yes. We always talk about what do we see when we see players that are best. I think you saw a glimpse of that in the second innings in Durban. So there's a message for him. With him going home, I wanted to be clear to him it wasn't a stopgap and that's it and it's a discard," said chair of selectors George Bailey.
"The same reasons and process we worked through to get him to be on the table for here and ultimately to play, they'll be the same questions that we'll ask across the home summer to India as well," he added.
Josh Inglis, who sustained a fractured finger, has been cleared to resume wicketkeeping duties if Alex Carey requires support. Sam Harper, who joined the tour as wicketkeeping cover following Inglis's injury, is departing to be available for Victoria's Sheffield Shield match against Queensland beginning Saturday. An opening batter is returning to Australia to feature in New South Wales' Sheffield Shield game starting Friday. The selectors will finalise the XI on Monday morning, with the team's final training session scheduled for the afternoon at Newlands.
