Australia star Steve Smith ruled out of 3rd Ashes cricket test against England

By Canadian Press on December 16, 2025.

ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Australia star Steve Smith was ruled out of the third Ashes cricket test against England just before the toss of the coin on Wednesday because of a lingering illness.

Smith led Australia to eight-wicket wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins. He hit the winning runs in Brisbane as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Veteran opener Usman Khawaja was recalled to the starting lineup as a last-minute replacement for Smith. Khawaja missed the second test with a back injury.

Fast bowler Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in his first test since recovering from a back problem. England needs a victory in the third test to have any chance of reclaiming the Ashes.

Players were wearing black armbands to honor the 15 people killed and dozens injured in an antisemitic attack at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday that targeted the Jewish community celebrating the start of Hannukah.

Police described the mass shooting as a terrorist attack inspired by Islamic State.

Flags were flown at half-mast at the Adelaide Oval on Day 1 of the third test.

Cricket Australia invited folk singer John Williamson to perform his fabled song “True Blue” in a pre-match program that included a moment’s silence, the Indigenous “Welcome to Country” and the Australian and England anthems.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

The Associated Press