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Steve Smith's neck scans show facet joint injury; return expected for Perth Test on 9 December

Cricket Australia said scans found a cervical facet joint injury in Steve Smith's neck, ruling Smith out of the third Test against South Africa. Australia expect a full return for the home series against New Zealand, starting in Perth on 9 December.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: ABC News (Australia)
Image: CNA

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The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Cricket Australia said an MRI scan found a "cervical facet joint" injury in Steve Smith's neck, a joint that helps stabilise and guide neck movement. Mixed · 2Smith, 37, was ruled out of the third and deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town; Cricket Australia said the injury and Smith's limited range of motion left Smith unfit to take part. Mixed · 2Cricket Australia said Smith will keep receiving treatment and rehabilitation, with a full return to availability anticipated for the home Test series against New Zealand.

Mixed · 2The first of four Tests against New Zealand is at Perth Stadium on 9 December, and ABC says it begins a run of 10 Tests in 14 weeks, including a five-Test tour of India (21 January to 3 March) and the 150th anniversary Test against England at the MCG (11–15 March). Left · 1ABC reports that Smith had scans on Friday, on arrival in Cape Town, and that coaching staff stayed extremely confident Smith would be fit for the South Africa Test. Left · 1Smith batted in the nets for about 35 minutes on Sunday before growing frustrated and leaving, then tried again on Tuesday morning, about 90 minutes before the match, and concluded the neck was not right.

Centre · 1Cameron Green, back from injury, batted at Smith's usual number four spot, and Australia were 330 for four at the close of the second day in reply to South Africa's first innings of 329. Left · 1Before the match, captain Pat Cummins said Smith was "one of the greatest batters we have ever had" and hoped Smith could play through being short of full fitness. ABC noted that Smith is now likely never to play another Test at Newlands, the venue of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
ABC leads with the scan result and what it means for a congested summer: 10 Tests in 14 weeks, and Smith's failed attempts to prove fitness in Cape Town.
Emphasis
Fixture load, the coaching staff's earlier confidence, and the detail of Smith's net sessions; it also adds the Newlands history.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not report the Cape Town match situation (Australia's score).
Charged language
“extremely confident”
For example
“Australia will want Smith available for that stretch of 10 Tests in 14 weeks” — ABC News (Australia)

Centre1 outlet

Framing
CNA's headline stresses reassurance: Smith 'cleared of serious neck injury' and set to play in the first New Zealand Test.
Emphasis
The positive outlook and the live match: Green batting at number four and the day-two score.
Leaves out or plays down
Leaves out the Friday scan date, the coaches' earlier confidence, the full schedule and Cummins' comments.
Charged language
“cleared of serious neck injury”
For example
“Australia expect Steve Smith to be fit for the first home test against New Zealand in Perth in December after scans cleared the veteran batter of serious neck damage.” — CNA

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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