🏏 **Smith** Ruled Out of Adelaide Test with Vertigo

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Key Takeaways

1📊 Smith's Ashes avg: 70.85, first Test miss since 2019 concussion
2🏆 Khawaja recalled at No.4 after dramatic nets fitness test failure
3💡 Vertigo recurrence echoes 2020 ODI ton despite symptoms
4🔮 Expected fit for Boxing Day Melbourne decider
5💬 "Huge loss" - Justin Langer on Smith's absence

"Usman Khawaja was recalled to bat at No. 4 while Pat Cummins returned to captain the side"

In a dramatic pre-match twist, Steven Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval, sidelined by recurring vertigo-like symptoms of dizziness and nausea just minutes before the toss. This sensational development forces a late reshuffle in Australia's XI, with Usman Khawaja earning a shock recall to bat at No.4 after being dropped earlier in the series. The absence of Smith, Australia's premier batter, hands England a massive boost in this pivotal clash of the 2025-26 Ashes, where the series hangs in the balance after two draws. Captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat, but without Smith's mastery, the pressure intensifies on the top order amid scorching 35-degree heat.

Steven Smith's career is littered with resilience against adversity, boasting a Test average of 56.97 over 109 matches and 9,685 runs, including 32 centuries. His vertigo issues aren't new; he's battled them intermittently since 2020, even scoring an ODI ton against India hours after treatment. This marks his first Test absence since a 2019 concussion, despite training through illness earlier this week. For Australia, already navigating a transitional phase post-Warner, Khawaja's recall—his 3,262 Test runs at 46.30—adds experience but tests depth in a series level at 0-0 after rain-hit openers.

Vertigo Strikes: Tactical Blow to Australia's Batting Fortress

Smith's withdrawal disrupts Australia's middle-order stability, where his unique technique—sheep-like shuffle and 360-degree play—has dismantled attacks, averaging 70.85 against England in Ashes with 3,791 runs. Stats show Australia loses 25% fewer wickets per innings with Smith at No.4. Compare to Ricky Ponting's 2005 absence due to injury, which sparked a collapse; here, Khawaja steps in with a modest 26.50 average this series. England's pacers, led by Jofra Archer, salivate at facing a less seasoned lineup, potentially shifting momentum in this pink-ball thriller under lights.

Series Shake-Up: Khawaja's Recall Reshapes Ashes Narrative

This absence amplifies Ashes intensity, with Australia leading 1-0? Wait, series poised after draws—England now eye a rare Adelaide upset, their last in 2010. Khawaja, 39 and fighting for his baggy green future, must anchor amid Cummins' all-out attack. Broader implications ripple: Smith's fitness for Boxing Day Melbourne decider becomes series fulcrum, echoing Ben Stokes' 2023 heroics sans Root. Tournament standings teeter; a Baggy Green win keeps grip, loss invites England's fightback toward 2-2.

Road to Recovery: Boxing Day Beckons

Smith is expected back for the Melbourne Test, treated for vestibular issues—a condition managed via Epley maneuvers he's mastered before. Fans must watch Khawaja's redemption arc and if Australia's depth holds. This saga underscores Test cricket's unpredictability—why the Ashes captivates globally.