Ashes LIVE: Aussie star Steve Smith is dominated OUT of Adelaide Test in gorgeous last-minute improvement

Over to Mail chief sports writer Oliver Holt at Adelaide Oval…

Fortune giveth and fortune taketh away. It has to be a bonus for England that Steve Smith has been ruled out of the game in the minutes before the start of the Test. But that was a bad toss to lose. It could be a long day in the field.

Both sides, as expected, are wearing black armbands to pay respect to the innocents who died in the Bondi Beach terror attack.

A minute’s silence has been observed, followed by Aussie musician John Williamson performing his hit song True Blue, which is something of an unofficial anthem for many Australians.

Justin Langer – who knows a thing or two about head knocks after his time in the game – said ‘it sounds like vertigo has got the better of him and it’s a horrible thing’ in commentary.

‘Those who have experienced it, it’s horrible. He will be feeling terrible and for him to walk out of the ground it tells us he is really unwell.’

Four years ago, Pat Cummins was the last-minute, high-profile scratching for the Aussies at Adelaide Oval when he was deemed a close-contact of a Covid-positive diner at a restaurant in the city of churches.

‘Steve’s been feeling a little bit unwell the last couple of days, he’s headed home,’ Cummins explained just after winning the toss, adding that Khawaja will bat at four.

The hosts will bat first, Cummins saying he believes the wicket ‘looks really good’.

It’s not 100% official yet but it seems a formality that Smith will be ruled out.

He’s pictured below leaving the playing surface after that discussion with Pat Cummins.

Usman Khawaja, who was axed yesterday, seems the logical replacement and he has been seen warming up with the other Aussie fielders this morning.

Coach Andrew McDonald, Cummins and Travis Head had a conversation after speaking to Khawaja.

Aussie cricket great turned commentator Kerry O’Keeffe has just reported that Smith could be out of the Test after failing to train due to a reported illness earlier this week.

‘Steve Smith had a long discussion with Pat Cummins regarding his fitness for this game. He walked away disconsolate after that discussion,’ O’Keeffe said.

‘There’s a suggestion that he was hit in the head at training, that there may be a possibility of a concussion … it could mean an 11th hour change to the Australian team.’

However, skipper Pat Cummins made no mention of a concussion at the coin toss, adding that Usman Khawaja is into the side as a straight swap for Smith, batting at four, which leaves the opening pairing of Jake Weatherald and Travis Head intact.

The tourists have made only one change to the side that lost by eight wickets in Brisbane, bringing in Josh Tongue for his first game of the series in place of Gus Atkinson.

Australia have dropped opener Usman Khawaja after he faced calls to retire due his disastrous start to the series.

The opener, who turns 39 tomorrow, played golf for three days straight before the start of the first Test, then suffered back spasms that left him unable to open in either innings.

The same back problem then saw him ruled out of the victory in Brisbane.

Nathan Lyon (pictured below practising in Adelaide this morning) returns after being controversially dropped for the second Test in favour of fast bowler Michael Neser.

Iconic Aussie singer John Williamson (pictured) will perform his famous song True Blue as a tribute to the victims when the match begins on Wednesday. Flags will also be flown at half-mast.

Daily Mail also understands players from both Australia and England will wear black armbands at Adelaide Oval.

‘This is a tragic time for all Australians and the thoughts of everyone in the cricket world are with the victims of this terrible event, their families, friends and the Jewish community,’ Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said.

‘While sport can seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay tribute, to console and to contemplate what we want our nation to be.’

South Australian authorities have ramped up security at the ground in light of the atrocity at Bondi Beach on Sunday.

The SA Police’s Security Response Section (pictured, bottom), which features officers armed with rifles and wearing ballistic vests, will be deployed in and around Adelaide Oval today.

Officers patrolling the area (pictured top before the start of play today) will also have additional powers to use metal detectors to search people for weapons, order groups or individuals to leave the area, and ban people from the oval for 24 hours if they commit a public safety offence

Thanks for joining the Daily Mail for our coverage of the third Ashes Test from Adelaide Oval.

A desperate England side will be trying to avoid losing the series in this match after crashing to losses in Perth and Brisbane.

It’s also sure to be a day of high emotion as tribute is paid to the innocent people who lost their lives in the Bondi Beach terror attack.