Islamabad, 9 November, 2026 (Ghufran): Australian batter Steve Smith is showing signs of recovery from a neck injury after consulting specialist doctors in New York, raising hopes of his return ahead of the upcoming Test series against New Zealand. Smith suffered neck discomfort during the second Test against South Africa, and medical scans later confirmed an injury to a joint in his neck, forcing him to miss the final match of the series. Australian chief selector George Bailey said Smith had met with medical specialists in New York and that progress had been made in identifying the underlying cause of the injury. Bailey expressed optimism that the batter could return to action for New South Wales in the fifth round of the Sheffield Shield against Queensland. Smith is expected to return to Sydney next week, with his comeback anticipated before Australia’s Test series against New Zealand.