Smith to lead Australia in third Test in absence of Cummins

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New Delhi | Veteran batsman Steve Smith will lead Australia in the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India in Indore. Regular captain Pat Cummins will not be able to attend the match due to family problems. Cummins went back to Australia after the defeat in the second Test in Delhi last week. It was told in a statement that his mother is ill and it is necessary to take care of her.

With a nine-day break between Tests following a three-day sabbatical in the second match, it was expected that the 29-year-old Cummins would return to India for the third Test starting on Wednesday.

But Australia confirmed on Friday that Cummins would not play in the Indore Test. He can return to the team for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad. But Smith can captain the remaining two matches.

Cummins said in a statement, I have decided not to return to India at this time. I think I will be with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thank you all.

It will be the third time Smith has led the Test team since his reinstatement as vice-captain in late 2021, when Cummins takes over from Tim Paine. Smith has served as captain for two Tests. In December 2022 when Cummins was ruled out with injury and in the 2021 Ashes Test when there were concerns related to Covid.

While Cricket Australia has not named any player in place of Cummins for this Test. The spot is likely to be taken by Mitchell Starc (who is also recovering from injury) or Scott Boland, who featured in the first Test. Australia had preferred to go with just one fast bowler in Cummins for the second Test in Delhi.

Australia is 0-2 behind in the series. Apart from Cummins, it will also miss the services of other senior members like David Warner and Josh Hazlewood, who have already been ruled out of the Test series due to injuries.(IANS)

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