Smith confident of return

Graeme Smith fractured his hand while batting today

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South Africa captain Graeme Smith should be available for Australia's visit to the republic despite fracturing his hand on the second day of the third Test at the SCG.

Smith was forced to retire hurt on 30 and go to hospital for x-rays after being struck by a rearing delivery from Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson late in the day.

He returned to the ground with his left hand and wrist in a plaster cast and will only bat again if the Proteas have a chance of winning or drawing the Test.

No decision has been made as to who will take over the captaincy for the remainder of the game.

In reply to Australia's first-innings total of 445, the tourists moved onto 125 for one at stumps today on a wearing pitch.

Smith will not require surgery to repair the hand but will need to go under the knife to correct a problem with his right elbow.

He will return home in the next few days and is expected to be fit for Australia's visit to South Africa next month.

"When Graeme gets home next week he will be consulting our team and medical experts in Pretoria on the way forward for both the finger and his elbow," South Africa's media manager Michael Owen-Smith said.

"We anticipate he will be fully fit for the home series."

Off-spinner Paul Harris believes Smith's injury could be a blessing in disguise.

Paul Harris believes the rest could be a blessing in disguise for Smith, who played through the pain

"He's obviously disappointed to be injured but I think this is the kick he probably needed to take a bit of a rest," Harris said.

"The big guy needs a rest. He's been playing for a long, long time and playing with a lot of pain.

"I don't think people realise how hard it's been playing with the pain he's been playing with.

"A lot of other guys would have packed it in a long time ago and had the op and gotten better from there.

"He hasn't - he's carried on - and respect to him for that."

As for South Africa's position in the third Test, Harris said: "They got a touch more than we would have liked them to have got but these things happen.

"We're pretty confident we can post close to their score if not a touch more.

"We are still looking to win this Test match but batting last is going to be tricky.

"First-innings runs will be crucial."