Australia's coach Andrew McDonald announced that Steve Smith will play on the final day of the second Test, which is being held at the St George's Park.
The Australian team's second innings stands at 156/4, and they are still trailing their opponents by 170 runs. Travis Head (87*) and observer Scott Boland (2*) are currently on the field.
Steve Smith, who scored 28 runs in the first innings despite the team's poor performance in the first round, faced neck stiffness issues, requiring medical attention both on and off the field. Because of this, he did not come out to bat at number four in the second innings; Matt Renshaw was brought in instead. McDonald explained this as part of a plan to give Smith more time to recover.
McDonald stated: 'We thought the best option was to try and finish the batting unit by tomorrow, and then hopefully, he will be in better condition.' He added that the physiotherapist is working on the player's condition, and Smith will play tomorrow. The coach noted that his condition does not preclude his participation, but after the first innings, he required a bit more time than expected. He also mentioned that Smith sometimes changes his technique when fully recovered.
The Australian team's performance is under intense public scrutiny after losing 13 wickets on the fourth day. Particular attention is being paid to Marnus Labuschagne, the senior batsman, and Bo Bester, the all-rounder, whom some Australian legends are calling for exclusion from the squad. However, McDonald emphasized that he is not going to 'throw anyone away'. He also firmly stated that he would not discuss changes to the squad mid-Test.
McDonald reminded everyone: 'Just a week ago, we were a really good team.' He continued that the team is now starting to defend its exceptionally good result. He dismissed any attempts to find negative points or discuss what should change, stressing that the team had shown high stability over a long period. He assured that he would not 'throw anyone away'. Despite the disappointment, he noted that the players on the team remain those who performed outstandingly last week. He expressed great faith and confidence that the skills of the players on the team, especially tomorrow, could help turn the match around.
He concluded that if the situation does not change, the team will move to Cape Town, regroup, and continue the fight. McDonald noted that one of the strengths of this group is its ability to respond to serious setbacks, and he considers the current situation a significant obstacle in terms of playing style.