Australian Test captain Pat Cummins shall be lacking the third Test towards India starting in Indore from March 1 as he won’t be returning quickly from Australia. Cummins, who was changed as world No. 1 Test bowler by James Anderson earlier this week, flew again to Australia after his facet misplaced the second Test in Delhi by six wickets as a result of his mom’s sickness.
Former Australian skipper Steve Smith will take over the captaincy reins from Cummins not less than for the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Cummins flew residence to Sydney, explaining in a press release that his mom ‘is ill and in palliative care’.
JUST IN: Pat Cummins will stay in Australia and miss the third Test towards India in Indore.
Steve Smith will captain Australia in his absence.#INDvAUS
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) February 24, 2023
There was a nine-day break between the second and third Tests of the BGT and it was anticipated that Cummins shall be again in India for the Indore Test starting subsequent week. But Australia confirmed on Friday that Cummins would miss the Indore Test. They are preserving the door open for him to return for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad, however Smith may find yourself captaining in each the remaining matches.
“I have decided against returning to India at this time,” stated Cummins. “I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding.”
Smith has spent 4 days in Dubai along with his spouse Dani Willis following the second Test earlier than re-joining the Australia squad in Delhi on Thursday night, when he was knowledgeable of Cummins’ determination to stay at residence for the subsequent Test.
It would be the third time that Smith, who was stripped of his captaincy after the ‘Sandpaper Gate’ scandal, shall be main the Test facet since his reinstatement as vice-captain in late 2021 when Cummins took over from Tim Paine. Smith has crammed in as skipper for 2 Tests that Cummins has been unavailable for.
Smith has led Australia in 34 Tests between 2014 and 2018, together with Australia’s most up-to-date Test tour of India in 2017, which they misplaced however Smith dominated with the bat, scoring three centuries.
Australia are at present trailing India 0-2 within the four-match Test sequence for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. India have already retained the trophy after claiming an unassailable lead within the sequence.
