Steve Smith to lead Australia in third test in absence of Pat Cummins
Before the third match of the Test series between India and Australia, the Australian team has suffered a major setback. Team captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the third test. Pat Cummins who is the regular captain of Australia has flown back due to a medical emergency at home. He will not be part of the Australian team in the third Test. Cummins was supposed to return to India on Sunday ahead of the third Test but wants to stay with the family for some time. Steve Smith will lead the Australian team in Indore.
Cummins said, “I have decided not to return to India at this time, as my mother is ill and her condition is critical. I feel it is best for me to be here with my family. I met Cricket Australia and my teammates Appreciate the overwhelming support. Thanks for understanding.”
Test vice-captain Steven Smith will lead the team in Indore. Since taking over the captaincy of Cummins, Smith has captained twice in Test matches. Cummins was named to captain Australia’s ODI side in the three-match series that follows the Test series, but it remains to be seen whether he will return to India.
Mitchell Starc has recovered from his finger injury and is most likely to play in Indore. Australia also have Scott Boland and Lance Morris as fast bowling options.
Boland played in the first Test in Nagpur with Cummins, but was dropped in Delhi for Australia’s selection of three spinners. Morris had a chance to go home to play some domestic cricket but was kept in India as cover for Cummins. Leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson is back in the squad after returning home ahead of the second Test for the birth of his first child. Cameron Green has also declared himself 100 percent fit after Delhi.
Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Ashton Agar also returned to Australia this week for various reasons but Australia did not add any other players to the squad as the selectors felt there were enough players for the final two Tests of the series.
