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IND vs AUS: Pat Cummins ruled out of the final test, Smith to lead the side

By Real11 - Mar 6 2023 326 Views

IND vs AUS 4th Test: Aussie skipper Pat Cummins ruled out of the fourth and final BGT test, Smith to lead the side

Australia suffered a major setback before the fourth Test match starting in Ahmedabad on 09th March. The Aussie skipper and World Number three bowler in the test Pat Cummins will not be able to join the team for the final BGT test match as well and guiding his team to victory in the last match, 33-year-old Steve Smith will take charge of the Visitors for this match. Cummins was also not a part of the team in the Indore Test, which Australia won.

Notably, it informed that Pat Cummins' mother's health is not good at the moment, due to which he left the tour of India in the middle and returned to his home. Earlier it was expected that Pat Cummins could come back before the Ahmedabad Test, although this has not been possible.

It is not yet clear whether Pat Cummins will be able to be a part of the ODI series to be held after the Test series. The 29-year-old gun bowler is also slated to lead the team in the 3-match ODI series. But as stated by Australian Cricket Board, no call has yet been made on his availability.

After the Visitors' victory in Indore, the stand-in skipper Smith said his time as the complete was done with the end of the third Test. “My time is done. It’s Pat’s team now," Smith told reporters after the nine-wicket win. I’ve been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home," the 33-year-old batter added.

However, in the ODI series, the Australian team has suffered a big setback and 32-year-old Kane Richardson has been ruled out of the ODI series due to a hamstring. 28-year-old Nathan Ellis has been included in the team in his place.

Australia's squad for Ahmedabad Test:

Steve Smith (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson

BGT test series:

First Test - India won by an inning and 132 runs

Second Test - India won by 6 wickets

Third Test - Australia won by 9 wickets

Fourth Test - March 9 to 13, Ahmedabad