Adelaide, Dec. 17 -- Australia has suffered a massive blow just before the third Ashes Test against England with news that star batter Steve Smith will miss the match due to illness.

Smith had been battling illness in the lead-up to the Adelaide Oval contest and was ruled out on the morning of the match, with veteran batter Usman Khawaja named as his replacement.

Australia skipper Pat Cummins confirmed Smith's absence from the team after he won the toss and elected to bat first on a bright, sunny day in Adelaide.

"He (Smith) is feeling unwell, and he has headed off home. But we are lucky to have someone like Uzzie to come in," Cummins said, as quoted from the ICC website.

Cummins said Khawaja will slot into Smith's preferred spot at N...