Smith's neck fitness hangs over Australia's build-up to the Cape Town decider

Australia will give Steve Smith as much time as he needs to prove he is fit for the third Test against South Africa, captain Pat Cummins has said. The match at Newlands in Cape Town starts on Tuesday 27 October and will decide the series, which South Africa have levelled at 1-1.

Smith hurt his neck in the second Test in Gqeberha. South Africa won that match by an innings and 31 runs, which means their first-innings total beat Australia's two innings added together by 31 runs. Smith had already taken a blow to the head in the first Test. He is 37, and he has averaged a little over 20 in four innings on this tour, according to The Guardian.

Smith is due to take a fitness test on the neck at Australia's training session on the eve of the match. Cricket Australia reports that he is firming up his place, and that he is expected to be fine to play despite a stiff neck that lasted through Gqeberha. Until he passes that test, his selection remains unconfirmed.

Cameron Green is also coming back into the side. He still cannot bowl because of a torso and abdominal injury, so he will return as a specialist batter. Cummins said Green would bat preferably in the middle order. Nic Maddinson has been dropped from the squad. Matt Renshaw is likely to open with Travis Head, though that is still expected rather than announced.

Marnus Labuschagne, meanwhile, has now gone 47 innings without a Test century, a run the Guardian report puts at its current length ahead of this match.

For casual fans, the shape of the team matters as much as the names. Test matches are the longest form of the game, played over up to five days, and a batter who is struggling can make a big difference across a whole series. Smith's record in South Africa is a useful reminder of his quality. ESPNcricinfo lists his career average in South Africa at 35.28, which is well above his tour average so far.

Cape Town's pitch and the weather will also shape how the decider unfolds, and both teams will have to adjust quickly. Whatever the fitness news on Monday, the next big moment belongs to the cricket, when the first ball is bowled on Tuesday.