Australia's Smith cleared of serious neck injury, set to play in first NZ test

Cricket Australia has announced the results of an MRI scan on Steve Smith's neck injury, which revealed a cervical facet joint injury. The vice-captain has been ruled out of the third and deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town and is expected to return for the first Test against New Zealand in Perth on December 9, starting a series of 10 Tests in three months. The injury is expected to keep Smith out of cricket for six weeks, with a full return anticipated for the upcoming home Test series against New Zealand.

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