Last Update: March 14, 2023, 10:26 AM IST
Steve Smith also led Australia in the last two Tests of the BGT. (AFP photo)
Pat Cummins returned home midway through the Test series to be with his mother, who passed away last week
Steve Smith will captain Australia in the three-match ODI series against India later this week after Pat Cummins decided to stay home. Cummins had gone back to his ailing mother after the Delhi Test, who passed away last week.
Smith led Australia in Cummins’ absence at Indore and Ahmedabad as the tourists lost the four-match Test series against India 1–2. However, their victory in Indore helped them book a place in the final of the ICC World Test Championship, where they will face India in June.
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Australia coach Andrew McDonald said, “Pat will not be back, he is still dealing with what happened at home.” cricket.com.au, “Our thoughts are with Pat and his family as they go through this sad process.”
Cummins’ mother Maria died of breast cancer while the fourth and final Test was underway in Ahmedabad. He was named ODI captain after Aaron Finch announced his retirement last year, with the home series against England being his first assignment.
No replacement will be named, although Australia have called up Nathan Ellis after Jhye Richardson was ruled out with injury. Josh Hazlewood, who left the tour midway due to an Achilles injury, will also not be a part of the series.
However, David Warner, who was ruled out after the Delhi Test due to injury, is set to make a comeback for the three ODIs starting this Friday.
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“We’ve got to have some conversations about the balance of the team we want to play, we’ve gone in with eight batsmen to go with a bit of depth, we’ve tried that,” McDonald said.
“So as we move into the World Cup, it will be a mix of combinations. There are so many all-rounders selected in the team and can all of them play in one team. So we have to answer some of those questions.”
Players like Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Marsh will be returning from various injuries, while Ashton Agar, who was sent home midway through the Test series, is also back.
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