Australia head coach Andrew McDonald expects Steve Smith to be fit to bat on the final day of the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha. The 37-year-old missed the final session on day four due to neck stiffness, raising concerns about his availability for the final day.

Smith top-scored with 28 in Australia’s first innings but struggled after a delivery from Kagiso Rabada caused his neck to jolt backwards. He received medical treatment on the field before Wiaan Mulder dismissed him, and he remained in the dressing room during Australia’s second innings.

Steve Smith Battles Neck Stiffness in Gqeberha Test

Steve Smith was Australia’s highest scorer in their first innings. He also crossed the 11,000-run mark in Test cricket. However, he appeared uncomfortable after edging a delivery from Kagiso Rabada, which caused his neck to jolt backwards. He received medical treatment twice on the field.

Smith's movement became restricted, and he struggled against Rabada’s next over, playing and missing at four consecutive deliveries while adopting unusual positions at the crease. He also began facing some deliveries with a more front-on stance before Wiaan Mulder bowled him.

The neck stiffness is reportedly an ongoing issue for the Australian batter. After his dismissal, Smith sat in the dressing room with a cushion around his neck to limit movement. He did not return at his usual No. 4 position during Australia’s second innings.

Andrew McDonald Confident Steve Smith Will Bat On Day 5

Australia head coach Andrew McDonald expects Steve Smith to bat if needed on the final day. He said that the team decided to give the batter more time to recover rather than send him back to the crease late on day four.

"We felt it was best to hopefully get the batting unit through to tomorrow and then hopefully he's better placed," McDonald said.

"We've seen the physio working on him, so he'll bat tomorrow. It's not something that will rule him out of the innings, but it was just a little bit more time than we expected on the back of the first innings."

"Sometimes he changes his technique when he's fully fit too, but he was limited in what he could do," McDonald added.

Australia Fight To Save Test After Batting Collapse

Australia were bowled out for 99 in their first innings after South Africa declared at 425/9, giving the hosts a 326-run lead. The collapse was their worst first-innings batting performance since their 2016 Test against South Africa in Hobart.

South Africa enforced the follow-on, marking only the third time since the 1980s that Australia have been forced to bat again in a Test. The visitors struggled again in their second innings and finished day four at 156/4, trailing by 170 runs.

Nic Maddinson fell to Rabada for eight after scoring a duck in the first innings. Marnus Labuschagne made 39 before losing his wicket while attempting an attacking shot against Simon Harmer. Matt Renshaw scored 11, while Beau Webster managed only eight.

Travis Head ended the day unbeaten on 87, while nightwatchman Scott Boland was not out on two. Australia must erase the 170-run deficit and survive long enough on day five to secure a draw.

Andrew McDonald remains confident that Australia can respond to the setback, whether in Gqeberha or in the third and final Test in Cape Town.

"I have great belief and trust in the skill sets in that room, and in particular tomorrow, we'll go out there and potentially turn this one around," McDonald said.

"If that doesn't unfold, we'll go to Cape Town and we'll reload. We'll go again. A great strength of this group is on significant setbacks - and I'll say this is a significant setback - we've been able to respond."