Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
📻 How to tune into Sport Nation
McDonald gives no guarantees on Smith amid sickness
SEN • December 16th, 2025 11:30 am
Just a day out from Australia’s third Ashes Test against England, coach Andrew McDonald has revealed that there remains slight concern over superstar bat Steve Smith.
The stand-in captain over Australia’s flawless start to the 2025 Ashes series, Smith has been a major factor in the early stages, scoring the winning runs at the Gabba after a half century in the first innings and three superb catches to unravel the English order.
However, Australia’s number four is facing the potential risk of missing the third Test, battling with illness that kept him out of the side’s main training session on Monday.
“Everyone will be on slightly individual programs,” McDonald told SEN Mornings.
“Steve Smith missed out on the main session yesterday, Pat Cummins didn’t bowl in the main session; there are some players at certain times that are on different programs, and we try our best to prepare the individual whilst taking care of the team needs.
“He doesn’t have to train today. He didn’t train yesterday for a reason – he was unwell.
“That’s always a slight concern, but you are hoping over the next 48 hours that all of that subsides. It’ll just be about recovery for him, to make sure that he is ready to go for day one.
“A part of that recovery is to get moving today to connecting tomorrow. If he’s not well enough to train today, we’ll test that over the day and into tomorrow.
“It’s not a huge concern at this stage, but as time gets closer to the game, as you know, that is obviously heightened slightly.
“As I said, there was some other players that didn’t partake fully in the main session yesterday as well, just because Steve didn’t take any part it was probably noticeable.
“A lot of people report on footy, and if you miss the main session, you’re out of the game. We don’t think that’s the case at this stage.”
The third Test in Adelaide kicks off on Wednesday and SEN Cricket will be there to call every ball LIVE.
