Green returns, Smith out as Australia make four changes and bowl

Steven Smith has been ruled out of the series-deciding third Test with a neck injury as Australia made four changes against South Africa in Cape Town.

In a major blow for Australia's under-fire batting order, Smith did not pass a fitness test after being hampered by a neck injury in Gqeberha. He had a brief net this morning while wearing a bandage or heat patch on his neck then wasn't seen for about half an hour.

In the meantime, Inglis shadow batted on the Test strip to confirm that he had replaced Smith. Inglis will bat at No.5 in his sixth Test match and first since December 2025.

Green will play as a specialist batter at No.4 despite bowling during training ahead of the match. He has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the final ODI against South Africa on September 30.

Boland can consider himself unlucky once again, after a five-wicket haul and a gritty 40 off 166 balls in the second innings at St George's Park was not enough to keep his spot. Lyon, who was replaced by Boland last game, returns.

Connolly will bat at No. 7 in just his second Test match having debuted in Sri Lanka early last year.

Matt Renshaw will move from No.5 to the top of the order after Maddinson was dropped following his unsuccessful return to Test cricket. Under-pressure No.3 Marnus Labuschagne has held his spot in a new-look batting order.

After levelling the series in style, South Africa made just one forced change with speedster Gerald Coetzee, returning to Test cricket after nearly two years, replacing Anrich Nortje who suffered a mild groin injury during the second Test.

The series-decider in Cape Town is Australia's Test return to the scene of the sandpaper scandal in 2018, with a sold-out crowd set to be in attendance for day one.

South Africa can rise to No.1 in the rankings with a victory, while a draw is enough for Australia to maintain their position at the top.

In welcome news after the rain-affected second Test, sunny conditions are expected through the match with Cummins expecting seam-friendly conditions early before the surface is expected to be good for batting.

Australia: 1 Travis Head, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Josh Inglis, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Cooper Connolly, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Marques Ackerman, 3 David Bedingham, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Matthew Breetzke, 6 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Simon Harmer, 10 Gerald Coetzee, 11 Kagiso Rabada