Australian head coach Andrew McDonald has provided an update on injured Steve Smith, expressing optimism that the star batter will be available to bat on crucial day five of the second Test in Gqeberha. The veteran batter, who was the only hope for Australia during Australia's first innings in an otherwise horror show, struggled on day four due to a neck issue, managing only 28 off 88 balls. Smith’s fitness was a big issue for Australia on day four after he was unable to walk out to bat when Australia’s second innings was under way. Notably, Australia endured a difficult opening innings, being bowled out for 99, handing South Africa a lead of 326 runs. After Australia were skittled for 99, South Africa captain Temba Bavuma decided to enforce follow-on in a bid to build on the bowling momentum and secure series win.
"We felt it was best to hopefully get the batting unit through to tomorrow, and then hopefully he's better placed," McDonald said at the press conference.
"We've seen the physio working on him, so he'll bat tomorrow. It's not something that will rule him out of the innings, but it was just a little bit more time than we expected on the back of the first innings.”
"Sometimes he changes his technique when he's fully fit too, but he was limited in what he could do."
Meanwhile, McDonald didn't hide his frustration amid a humiliating day four for Australia, underlining the side’s unruly shotmaking.
“(I’m) disappointed. I think that’s the word that I’d use to sum it up,” McDonald said.
“When you talk about being disappointed, probably some of the shots that we played in the scenario when we knew we had a lot of work to do at the start of the day ... I think some of the shots that some of the players played today they would take back.”