By Sinjini Mitra
Steve Smith shocked everyone by withdrawing from the third Ashes Test against England on the morning of the opening day at Adelaide, Australia confirmed that the Australian skipper is currently suffering from nausea and dizziness in the lead-up to the match.
Smith has even completed his warm-up at the Adelaide Oval before leaving the stadium following the discussions with the head coach of the team Andrew McDonald.”A Cricket Australia” “stated that the player had been closely monitored over the past few days and was close to being available, but the persistence of the symptoms forced him to withdraw.
It’s been said that over the past few days the player was feeling unwell, with symptoms including nausea and dizziness, later he was assessed and monitored closely and was announced that he was close to being available to play. However, given the persistence of symptoms, a decision was made not to proceed.
Australia later confirmed Smith is being treated for a potential vestibular issue, something he has experienced intermittently in his past and recently he has been expected to be available for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Smith’s absence opened the door for Usman Khawaja, who grabbed the rare opportunity in the series with both hands on the opening day. Khawaja began cautiously and was on 5 from 27 balls when England’s Harry Brook dropped a regulation catch at second slip. The left-handed player shifted his gears, showing greater intent and guiding Australia through a challenging passage of play.
With Smith sidelined, Pat Cummins returned to take over the leadership role after missing the previous Test. Cummins admitted that the decision was only made on the morning of the match. Cummins even complimented Usman for his skillship and brilliant sportsmanship.
Smith’s withdrawal was a significant blow given his dominance over England in Test cricket. Former England pacer Stuart Broad recently described Smith as the “thorn in England’s flesh,” in the “For the Love of Cricket” podcast stressing the importance of dismissing him early.
For Australia, however, Khawaja’s composure ensured Smith’s late absence did not derail their plans on the opening day in Adelaide.