In a massive blow for Australia, Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc ruled out of SA tour

Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc will miss Australia’s upcoming tour of South Africa.

Australia have suffered a huge blow as star batter Steve Smith and ace pacer Mitchell Starc have been ruled out due to their respective injuries, Cricket Australia confirmed on August 18, 2023.

Steve Smith had injured his wrist on the recent Ashes 2023 tour of England and hence will miss the South Africa tour where Australia are set to play three T20Is and five ODIs.

Smith is believed to have struggled with a left wrist injury throughout the England series and now requires further recovery time before the World Cup. He was one of just two Ashes team members picked for the T20I series and was slated to open for Australia in T20Is against South Africa.

He will now, however, be out until Australia’s series against India, which will begin on September 22 in India and conclude just before the World Cup.

On the other hand, pacer Mitchell Starc will also remain at home before heading out to join the India series as he recovers from a groin soreness sustained in the Ashes.

As a result, Mitchell Marsh has been named captain of the Australian team for both the T20Is and ODI series in South Africa and Pat Cummins will also join the squad, but is not confirmed to play in any of the matches as he recovers from a fractured wrist.

Marnus Labuschagne, Ashton Turner and Spencer Johnson added to Australia white-ball squad for South Africa tour

Australia have already selected a weakened squad for the T20Is against South Africa with three-format players Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Cameron Green, and David Warner all resting.

This meant that the selectors had to dig in the reserves and have named Ashton Turner as replacement for Smith and uncapped pacer Spencer Johnson will fill in for Starc. Also, Marnus Labuschagne has been added to the ODI squad, after missing out of the provisional World Cup squad.

“With the World Cup the priority of the squad, it was determined on advice that it was best for Steve and Mitchell to join the group in India by which time we expect them to be fully fit and available for the Indian ODI series, plus the World Cup warm-up fixture,” chair of selectors George Bailey said.

Glenn Maxwell will play in the T20I series against South Africa starting on August 30 but then miss the five-match ODI series which follows in order to be at home for the birth of his first child before re-joining Australia’s squad for three matches against India.   

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