Steve Smith is currently missing matches because of illness, specifically vertigo‑type symptoms causing nausea and dizziness, and Australia have rested him on medical advice with the expectation he will return for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Quick Scoop

What’s actually going on?

  • Steve Smith was ruled out on the morning of the 3rd Ashes Test in Adelaide after feeling unwell for several days, with issues like dizziness and nausea.
  • Cricket Australia described it as a possible vestibular or inner‑ear issue, something he has reportedly dealt with intermittently in the past.
  • The call not to play was taken as a precaution by the team management and medical staff rather than Smith simply being “dropped”.

Is he dropped or injured?

  • This is not about form or being axed from the side; he was in the named XI and replaced late by Usman Khawaja once it was clear he wasn’t fully fit.
  • Reports from team statements and major cricket outlets repeatedly frame it as an illness/vertigo issue, not a selection snub.

When is Steve Smith expected back?

  • The official expectation is that rest and treatment will have him ready for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, assuming his symptoms settle.
  • Multiple news reports note that this Adelaide absence is viewed as temporary, with no suggestion he is stepping away from cricket altogether.

Forum / Fan discussion vibes

“Why Steve Smith is not playing” has been a trending query among fans, especially around the Adelaide Test, with many initially fearing a major injury or even a shock dropping.

  • On public forums, fans are split between worry about his long‑term health and relief that it’s reportedly a manageable vertigo‑type problem.
  • Some discussions also connect this to his recent move to focus more heavily on Test cricket so he can stay mentally and physically fresher across long seasons.

TL;DR (bottom)

  • Reason he is not playing: illness with vertigo‑like symptoms (nausea, dizziness), linked to a possible inner‑ear/vestibular issue.
  • Who decided: team management and medical staff, as a precaution, not a form‑based dropping.
  • Latest news: he is widely expected to be fit and available for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne if recovery goes as planned.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.