3. Steve Smith (AUS)

Ace Australian batter Steve Smith was ruled out of the South Africa tour in the aftermath of a wrist tendon injury he had suffered during the Ashes 2023 series, which ended in a 2-2 draw in England. Smith picked up the injury while playing in the Lord’s Test of the Ashes and got sidelined. He tried wearing splints but later opted for cortisone injections to solve his injury woes. His next assignment will be the three-match ODI tour of India before the World Cup 2023.