Australia captain Pat Cummins will miss the third Test in India after returning home to be with his ailing mother in Sydney, Cricket Australia said on Friday. Thus, Steve Smith will lead the side in Indore, where the match begins on Wednesday, in absence of skipper and paceman Cummins.
Cummins returned home after Australia succumbed to their second successive defeat in the four-Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which India will retain having taken a 2-0 lead.
Pat Cummins’ mother Maria Cummins is seriously ill at the moment, and that’s why Pat has decided to stay with her. The exact nature of her illness is not known, but she is under palliative care.
“I have decided against returning to India”: Pat Cummins
“I have decided against returning to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel I am best being here with my family,” Cummins said. “I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my team-mates. Thanks for your understanding.”
Cummins was named to captain Australia’s ODI team in the three-match series that follows the Test series but it remains to be seen whether he will return to India at all.
Josh Hazlewood, David Warner and Ashton Agar have also flown home for various reasons this week but Australia did not add any other players to the squad as the selectors felt there was enough cover for the final two Tests of the series.
Some better News for Australia amidst captain’s Exit
Mitchell Starc is expected to be fit for the Indore Test having recovered from his finger injury after nearly playing in Delhi. Australia also have Scott Boland and Lance Morris as fast-bowling options.
Boland played the first Test in Nagpur alongside Cummins but was squeezed out in Delhi when Australia opted for three spinners. Morris was a chance to fly home to play some domestic cricket but was kept in India as cover for Cummins.
Legspinner Mitchell Swepson is returning to the squad after flying home prior to the second Test for the birth of his first child. Cameron Green has also declared himself 100 percent fit after nearly playing in Delhi.
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