Steve Smith captain, IND vs AUS: After the Australian captain Pat Cummins missed the 3rd and 4th test matches, it is doubtful that he will feature in the ODI series against India. In absence of Cummins, Steve Smith was given the command to lead the visitors in two tests and now it is confirmed that the stand-in captain will lead the team in ODIs as well.
Following the second test match, the Australian test captain returned to his home country to be with his mother, who was receiving treatment for breast cancer and was later declared dead on 10th March in Sydney.
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 missing the ODI series will hurt the Kangaroos as they look to take something out of the tour after losing the test series 2-1.
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IND vs AUS: Steve Smith to remain captain for ODI series
Steve Smith led the Australian side phenomenally in the 3rd and 4th tests, winning one and drawing the other. Smith has been lauded by cricket experts for his captaincy as the right-handed batter keeps on experimenting with the field.
“Pat won’t be coming back, he’s still taking care of what’s happened back home,” Australian coach Andrew McDonald said.
“Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through that grieving process,” Donald was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
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There has been no announcement from Cricket Australia regarding a replacement for Cummins in the 15-man squad. However, Due to a late withdrawal from Jhye Richardson, who required hamstring surgery, Nathan Ellis was recently added back into the ODI squad.
David Warner, who was retired hurt in the second test, is set to return to the side after missing the final two Tests due to an elbow injury. Josh Hazlewood, who also captained the ODI team during the England series when Cummins missed a match, is also not in the squad due to an injury.
Ashton Agar has made his return to the team after being sent home halfway through the Test series. He is expected to form a spin partnership with Adam Zampa in the upcoming series. Additionally, Glenn Maxwell, who suffered a broken leg, and Mitchell Marsh, who underwent ankle surgery, will also be making their comebacks to the team in this series.
