Australia will be led by Steve Smith in the upcoming third Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The team is trailing by 0-2 in the four-match series. Their regular skipper Pat Cummins went home due to his mother's illness. He won't be available for the third game with only two days left in the start.
"I have decided against returning to India at this time," Cummins said in a statement adding his mother was "ill and in palliative care"
"I feel I am best being here with my family.
"I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding," Pat Cummins said.
The team will be looking to win the game and ensure their qualification for the final spot in Test Championship. However, they would also need New Zealand to beat Sri Lanka in at least one of the two Tests that will be played in recent future.
Steve Smith to lead Australia for the second time post-Sandpaper Gate
Meanwhile, the right-hander, Smith will lead the team for the second time in more than a year. In the second Ashes 2021-22 game, he led the side. Apparently, Cummins was ruled out after coming in contact with a COVID-19 positive. However, the right-arm pacer wasn't tested positive for the disease.
Meanwhile, after a gap of more than a year, the two-time World Cup winner will lead the team. Also, he averages 67.73 in 36 Tests as captain. He has 3793 runs during this phase. He would look to repeat the same glory in the upcoming game against India. Meanwhile, the fans have chimed in and are confident that the Indian bowlers will bring down the average.
After all, the team has players such as Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and Axar Patel. Apart from this, Smith isn't enjoying the best of times with the bat in India in the ongoing series.
This is how Twitter reacted
When last time Smith captained this happened. Hope it won't happen this time pic.twitter.com/kQPFtRRCct
— Cricket Crazy (@CrazyinCricket) February 27, 2023
Thorough body check have to be deployed before letting them in field. We don't want chisel or pickaxe or sand paper ( donno what is their latest trend) in ground.
— Girish (@Talkagain1234) February 27, 2023
According to my opinion there is no comparison between virat and rohit both are indian players so no hate for both of them but there is fact that rohit is better than chokli if we are being honest that's it
— The Armor (@crazyleader049) February 27, 2023
Time to bring down the Average pic.twitter.com/AFyJ1RhGvo
— PJ says (@PjPriyank2) February 27, 2023
Don't worry his average gonna decrease after the last two match :')
— Aadi071845 (@AdityaJ20820230) February 27, 2023
don't worry rohit will owned him
— OPERATOR (@Rahu_lChate) February 27, 2023
0 cares...
— 𝘽¹⁸ (@mallichudam) February 27, 2023
ASH will take care of him
Virat > Smith
— Gautam (@IndiaTweetrian) February 27, 2023
Should check pockets
— Elijah Impey 🍋🌶️ (@BreatheRaina) February 27, 2023
Use this as PR button
— Gautam (@IndiaTweetrian) February 27, 2023