Steven Smith did not take the field in South Africa’s second innings at Kingsmead on Monday. He was struck on the helmet while batting by Anrich Nortjé. CA said he would be assessed, and that they would issue an update “later today or tomorrow”.
Smith seemed to lose sight of a short pitched delivery, the 43rd of the fourth day’s play in the first Test. He ducked into the path of the ball, which clanged him apparently glancingly near the top of his helmet.
Play was held up for several minutes while Smith was tested for concussion and brought another helmet. The next 10 balls he faced were bowled by Simon Harmer. Then Nortjé steamed towards him again …
Smith drove off the back foot, aiming for the covers. The ball skewed off the inside half of the bat to midwicket for no run. Nortjé’s next effort received the same treatment. This time Smith middled the ball, but was not rewarded because it streaked straight to a fielder.
Then Smith reeled off a hattrick of fours — interrupted by a wide — through gully, point and backward point. It was a remarkable series of strokes that seemed to confirm his fitness. He faced another 22 deliveries before being caught in the deep off Harmer.
But when the Australians huddled on the boundary before the start of South Africa’s pursuit of a target of 421, Smith was not among them. Michael Nesser took the field in his place.
Smith claimed three sniping slip catches on Sunday. Two of them miracle grabs off Nathan Lyon, who told a press conference: “I’ve been fortunate to have [Smith] standing at first slip or leg slip for the majority of my career, and I’m extremely grateful for that.”
How much the visitors might miss him in that department was brought into sharp relief a dozen overs into South Africa’s second innings. Lyon bowled to Aiden Markram, who played forward defensively. The ball took the outside edge and hit Alex Carey’s elbow before squirting wide of a wrong-footed Marnus Labuschagne at slip. It would have been a spectacular catch, even by Smith’s standard. But it was difficult to think of anyone else taking it.
This is sadly familiar territory for Smith. From August 2019 he has been concussed twice and suffered from vertigo three times, which led to him being ruled out of two matches.
The Australians’ first priority is Smith’s health. But the fact that the second Test at St George’s Park starts as soon as Sunday will be a close second — if he is concussed he won’t be considered for that match.