McDonald backs Smith to play New Zealand Test in Perth
Coach Andrew McDonald says Marnus Labuschagne must be reassessed after Australia's batting collapsed twice during the South Africa series.
Steve Smith is expected to play Australia's first Test against New Zealand in Perth next month, Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Coach Andrew McDonald said Smith chose to miss the third Test in Cape Town, which South Africa won by 176 runs, because of a neck problem that flared up the week before.
A pain-killing injection on the morning of the match did not work, and the 37-year-old withdrew after struggling through a last-minute fitness test in the nets.
McDonald said the team was planning for Smith to play in Perth and that staff needed to understand the neck issue so it would not recur.
Smith has not committed to his future in Test cricket, although McDonald described the subject as a "rolling conversation".
McDonald defended the batting group, which was dismissed for 99 and 111 in consecutive Tests, and said he believed Australia had grown stronger in that area since the start of the tour.
He admitted Marnus Labuschagne had not taken his chance in the series, with his batting average falling to 24.31 over his last 49 innings.
Labuschagne's last Test hundred came almost three-and-a-half years ago, and McDonald said the team would have to reassess his position.
McDonald said wholesale changes were unlikely for the home series, which Australia will play against New Zealand, the new World Test Championship ladder leaders.
South Africa won the second Test by an innings and 31 runs before taking the series with their win in Cape Town.