Australian batting maestro Steve Smith has provided a detailed and concerning account of the vertigo symptoms that led to his shock withdrawal from the crucial third Ashes Test in Adelaide earlier this month. This marked the second Test match Smith has missed in Australia's last six outings, raising questions about his ongoing battle with the condition.
The Debilitating Symptoms That Forced Withdrawal
Speaking to The Age on Wednesday, Smith described feeling unwell from the moment he began batting in the Adelaide nets. "As soon as I started batting in Adelaide I didn’t feel great, wasn’t tracking the ball well, had a bit of head stuff going on," he revealed. The situation worsened over the following days, despite attempts to push through.
Smith consulted with Australian coach Andrew McDonald, who advised him to try light activity. However, a round of golf left him feeling "awful." The morning of the Test match confirmed his fears. "I just wasn’t … I couldn’t track the ball. Felt dizzy. When I had my head back and come up (to face), I needed to recalibrate every time my head came up, it was all over the place," Smith explained, detailing the disorienting experience that made playing impossible, especially in the extreme Adelaide heat.
A History of Head Issues and the Road to Recovery
This is not the first time the 36-year-old has faced such challenges. In 2022, he suffered a concussion during a fielding mishap in a T20I against Sri Lanka in Sydney and spoke about recurring vertigo symptoms. He has also experienced similar issues earlier in his career.
Smith clarified that the recent episode was more related to "vestibular stuff" affecting his eye-tracking, rather than the spinning sensation of classic vertigo. "I felt really slow, really heavy in the head, tightness in the neck and not much fun," he added. To combat this, he is undergoing specific rehabilitation.
"I’ve got some training exercises I need to do, tracking things, wearing goggles with a laser on it, drawing different shapes and things like that. So it’ll be a bit of that, strengthening my neck," Smith stated, expressing hope that the issue is resolved for good.
Looking Ahead: Return to Squad and Ashes Perspectives
Having regained fitness, Smith has been named in the Australian squad for the fourth Test in Melbourne. He reflected positively on his use of eye patches during the day-night Test in Brisbane, claiming they worked "100 per cent" and that he would use them in future night games.
Smith also weighed in on the broader Ashes contest, empathising with England coach Brendon McCullum's comments about potentially "overpreparing." "Sometimes you just try too hard to get yourself into that frame of mind, and you’re actually cooked when you go out to the middle to try to perform under pressure," Smith remarked, highlighting the mental toll of high-stakes series.
Prior to missing the Adelaide Test, Smith had scored 103 runs in the series with one half-century. His replacement, Usman Khawaja, stepped into the side. As Australia prepares for the Melbourne Test, all eyes will be on Smith's form and fitness, with fans hoping his vertigo struggles are firmly in the past.
