Steve Smith has been cleared to take the field on day five of the first Test against South Africa at Kingsmead, allaying fears that a nasty blow to the helmet had ruled him out of Australia’s victory charge.

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The 37-year-old batting maestro copped a brutal bouncer from South Africa’s Anrich Nortje flush on the grille during Monday’s play, sparking immediate concern among the Australian camp. While Smith showed trademark resilience to continue his innings, he was notably absent from the field when the Proteas began their second dig later that afternoon.

Cricket Australia confirmed Smith underwent concussion assessment protocols on Monday evening, standard procedure after any head knock in the modern game. Under CA’s stringent guidelines, any player diagnosed with concussion faces a mandatory 24-hour stand-down period, a rule that would have sidelined the veteran for the crucial final day.

But Smith’s overnight assessment brought positive news. The former Australian captain was spotted going through his pre-play routines with teammates on Tuesday morning before resuming his customary position in the slip cordon, ready to hunt down the six wickets Australia needed to seal a 1-0 series lead.

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The timing couldn’t be more crucial. With South Africa resuming precariously placed on 102 for four, still requiring an improbable 319 runs to chase down the 421-run target, Australia needed their full arsenal, and that includes Smith’s safe hands in the slips, where he recently became Test cricket’s all-time leading catcher with 223 career catches.

Smith’s clearance provides a significant boost for Australia’s push for victory in the opening Test of the three-match series. His experience and presence in the cordon could prove decisive as the tourists look to apply the stranglehold on a South African batting line-up already under immense pressure at Kingsmead.