Following his team’s second straight loss in the ongoing Border Gavaskar series in Delhi, Australian captain Pat Cummins is en route to Sydney. Due to a significant health crisis in his family, the 29-year-old is departing the Australian camp and will return to the subcontinent prior to the start of the third Test on March 1.
The Australian squad has a nine-day respite before their next assignment against the local team in Indore following a second consecutive loss within three days of a Test match. The Australian captain will spend a few days in Sydney before flying home to get ready for the upcoming Test match against the hosts.
After India completed a straightforward chase to take an unbeatable lead in the series and retain the Border Gavaskar Trophy, Cummins, who was his team’s lone pacer in the second Test, did not bowl at all. Should the Aussie quick not arrive in time for the third Test, Steve Smith, his backup, will captain the team against the tenacious Indians.
According to rumors, Australian leg spinner Mitchell Swepson, who departed last week to give birth to his first kid, is scheduled to rejoin the team before the third Test. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are expected to make it to the first squad for the forthcoming Test if they recover from their respective injuries, even if Scott Boland and Lance Morris are still waiting for their turn.
The Australian squad will need to make some adjustments in the batting lineup in addition to the bowlers, as David Warner’s continued participation in the series is now in doubt due to an elbow injury. Due of the visitors’ inability to comprehend the characteristics of Indian pitches, the southpaw will be a major loss for the team.