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Steve Smith to miss cricket until December after neck injury diagnosis

Steve Smith will sit out remainder of the series against South Africa after medical examinations revealed a cervical facet joint issue in his neck, sidelining the veteran until a home series versus New Zealand in December. The injury occurred during the previous match in Gqeberha, and subsequent failure to pass a fitness assessment prior to the Newlands clash forced team management to alter their batting order.

Cameron Green stepped into the fourth spot in the lineup, while Matthew Renshaw and Josh Inglis slotted into opening and middle-order roles respectively. Those tactical shifts paid off as Australia responded to a first-innings deficit by building a slender lead, underpinned by strong contributions from Renshaw, Green, Inglis, and Alex Carey.

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