IND vs AUS: Pat Cummins is to miss the fourth test match against India which will start on 9th march. As a result, Steve Smith will remain captain for the final test match after leading the Australian side to win in the third test.
In the first two matches of the Test series against India, the Australian skipper Pat Cummins’ performance was below par. He was unable to make any significant contributions with the ball, and his approach to captaincy was also questioned.
Pat Cummins’ absence led to Steve Smith captaining the Australian side in the third test match which brought a few positives as well. Australia won the match after poorly losing the first two matches.
The Australian test captain flew back to his homeland after the second test match to stay with his ailing mother who is diagnosed with breast cancer and currently receiving treatment in Sydney. Cummins’ mother ‘Maria’ has been receiving palliative care.
Steve Smith to remain captain in absence of Pat Cummins
Steve Smith, who was named the captain for the Indore Test, will retain his leadership role for the Ahmedabad Test as well. Smith shared his enjoyment of captaining in the sub-continent during the post-match presentation in Indore.
He feels that he has a good understanding of the conditions and the nuances of the game in this region. According to Smith, the constant events and happenings of every ball make it a unique experience compared to other parts of the world. Additionally, he expressed satisfaction with his captaincy performance in the recent match.
Read more: WPL 2023: Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bangalore Match Prediction and Betting Tips
“No call has yet been made on Cummins’ availability for the three-match ODI series that follows the Tests, with the fast bowler having also been appointed as 50-over captain last year,” said Cricket Australia in a statement.
Steve Smith has been a successful captain in Test cricket, having led Australia to several victories. He first took up the role of captaincy in 2015 and has since led the team in many important series, including the Ashes and Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
However, his captaincy was suspended for a year due to his involvement in the ball-tampering scandal in 2018. After serving the ban, Smith made a comeback to international cricket, and although he has not resumed his captaincy role in the limited-overs format, he continues to be an important member of the Test team.