Nic Maddinson will miss out for the third Test against South Africa at Newlands, while Steve Smith faces a fitness test on his troublesome neck, reports ESPNcricinfo.

JUST IN: Nic Maddinson’s omission from Australia’s XI for the Cape Town Test has been confirmed, while Steve Smith faces a fitness test on his troublesome neck.

Maddinson and Sam Harper will leave Australia’s squad to be available for upcoming Sheffield Shield games https://t.co/ty0a7qcWyP

— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) October 26, 2026

Maddinson, 34, and back-up wicketkeeper Sam Harper have also been released from the Test squad to be available for Sheffield Shield cricket. Maddinson passed double figures only once in four innings after his surprise recall.

He is set to play for New South Wales against Tasmania in Hobart, while Harper joins Victoria against Queensland at the Gabba. Harper had been Alex Carey’s understudy while Josh Inglis recovered from a broken finger.

Inglis and Cameron Green are both back from injury, and Matthew Renshaw is tipped to open. Smith struggled with a stiff neck during the second Test in Gqeberha and is expected to play if he passes the test.

South Africa named a 16-player squad on Saturday without Anrich Nortje, who is out with a groin injury, and the series is level at 1-1 ahead of Tuesday’s start.

Australia won the first Test by 214 runs, and South Africa levelled with an innings and 31-run win in Gqeberha.

Play at Newlands starts at 10:30 local time on Tuesday 27 October.

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