Steve Smith. File
| Photo Credit: R.V. Moorthy
Senior batter Steve Smith will lead Australia in opposition to India in the upcoming three-match ODI series as common captain Pat Cummins, who misplaced his mom not too long ago, won’t return to the nation for the white-ball contest.
Cummins had left for dwelling after the second Test in Delhi to maintain his mom Maria, who died of breast most cancers final week.
The first recreation of the three-match series can be performed in Mumbai on March 17.
“Pat won’t be coming back, he’s still taking care of what’s happened back home,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald mentioned.
“Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through that grieving process,” Donald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
Cricket Australia has not named any alternative for Cummins in the 15-man squad. Smith had captained Australia in the final two Tests of the four-match series that India gained 2-1 to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
India gained the primary two Tests whereas Australia emerged victorious in the third match in Indore. The Ahmedabad recreation ended in a uninteresting draw.
Nathan Ellis was not too long ago recalled to the ODI squad after Jhye Richardson made a late withdrawal having been pressured to endure a hamstring surgical procedure.
A struggling David Warner, who has not been among the many ODI squad members coaching in Ahmedabad in latest days, is ready to return to the side after lacking the ultimate two Tests due to an elbow harm.
On the tempo entrance, Josh Hazlewood, who additionally captained the ODI crew through the England series when Cummins missed a match, is absent due to an harm.
Ashton Agar has returned after being despatched dwelling halfway via the Test series and is probably going to kind a spin partnership with Adam Zampa.
The series can even mark the returns of Glenn Maxwell (damaged leg) and Mitchell Marsh (ankle surgical procedure) from severe accidents.
“We’ve got a couple conversations around the balance of the team we want to play, we’ve gone in with a structure with eight batters to bat a little bit deeper, we’ve tried that,” mentioned McDonald.
“So there’ll be a mix of combinations as we lead into the World Cup.
“[There is] a whole lot of all-rounders picked in the squad and may all of them play in the one crew? So we have to reply a couple of of these questions.” The ODI series is vital for Australia provided that India is internet hosting the ODI World Cup in October-November.
Cummins took over the ODI job after Aaron Finch’s retirement final yr however has led the side in simply two matches thus far.
