MELBOURNE: After returning home to be with his unwell mother in Sydney, Australia’s skipper Pat Cummins will miss the third Test Indore in India, Cricket Australia announced on Friday.
In the absence of captain and paceman Cummins, Steve Smith will serve as the team’s captain in Indore, where the match will begin on Wednesday.
After Australia lost their second straight match in the four-test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India will keep after taking a 2-0 lead, Cummins returned to his native country.
In a statement, Cummins stated, “I have chosen against travelling to India at this moment. His mother is unwell and receiving palliative care.
“I feel at my best here with my family,’ she said.
“I appreciate Cricket Australia’s and my teammates’ overwhelmingly positive support. Thank you for your patience.
Australia’s Captaincy and Injury Woes Ahead of Final Test in India
Smith might wind up captaining the team in both games, despite Australia’s hopes that Cummins will be available for the final Test in Ahmedabad beginning on March 9.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood, who is injured, has gone home from India without participating in a game, and opener David Warner also took a flight home after sustaining an elbow fracture and concussion during the second Test in New Delhi.
Furthermore, Ashton Agar, a left-arm spinner who plays for Western Australia in domestic cricket, did not play any games in India either.
But, all-rounder Cameron Green, who missed the first two games due to a finger injury, has declared himself healthy for the Indore Test.
Green told reporters in New Delhi, “I was so close in the last game, but I think certainly having an extra week has helped a lot, so, yeah, I’m ready to go.
rapid left arm To fill the vacuum left by Cummins’ absence, Mitchell Starc, who is also recovering from a finger injury, is likely to play his maiden game in Indore.
India needs one more win in the series to secure their spot, while Australia needs to avoid a 4-0 rout to go to the World Test Championship final at The Oval in June.