Australia’s cricket team captain, Pat Cummins, is flying back to Sydney due to a severe family emergency, and Josh Hazlewood’s tour of India has come to an end due to an injury.
Amidst a “serious family illness”, Pat Cummins, the skipper of the Australian cricket team, has flown back home. Nonetheless, he is anticipated to reunite with the squad later this week in time for the preparations leading up to the third Test of the Border-Gavaskar series that will take place in Indore.
If Pat Cummins is unable to play a Test, Steve Smith will take on the captaincy duties, as he did in the previous two Tests in Adelaide, although this is considered unlikely.
In the second Test match held in Delhi, Pat Cummins led the Australian team to a defeat against India, resulting in India securing a 2-0 series lead and retaining the Border Gavaskar Trophy.
Pat Cummins’ absents in the Border-Gavaskar Tour
Despite India winning the Delhi Test and holding on to the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the fourth time in a row, Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, expressed that his team still had a lot to play for, as a tied series is a big incentive. The 29-year-old is set to lead his team in the remaining Tests and will be available to lead in the three-match ODI series that comes after. This series is a vital preparation for the forthcoming World Cup, and Cummins is expected to play an important role.
Although the fast bowler Pat Cummins was traveling to Sydney on Sunday to attend to a family emergency, he is expected to return to India in time for the remaining two matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Indore and Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, the Australian coach, Andrew McDonald, has confirmed that Josh Hazlewood will be returning home to continue his rehabilitation for his Achilles injury, which has kept him out of the first two Tests of the series.
Despite intensifying his training, Hazlewood has been unable to recover from his injury and will continue his rehabilitation at his residence in Sydney.
According to a spokesperson for the Australian team, the fast bowler is unlikely to be fit for the Sheffield Shield games for New South Wales.
Australia captain Pat Cummins has hinted that there might be some changes in the squad for the upcoming third Test in Indore. Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc are expected to be fit and will most likely feature in the Test. However, there is a doubt about David Warner’s participation in the match due to his injury. Warner had suffered a concussion as well as a hairline fracture in his left elbow.
On a positive note, Andrew McDonald, the Australian coach, declared that Cameron Green is 100 per cent fit for the third Test, which is great news for the Australian team. Moreover, Mitchell Starc is also in line to play, and the visitors are looking to make the most of his presence in the team.
Although both Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc had been nursing serious finger injuries, they are on the road to recovery. Green was almost fit enough to play in the Delhi Test, and Australia coach Andrew McDonald revealed that Starc had made himself available for the match, even though he was not completely healed.
Pat Cummins’ Substitute
In the second Test against India, Australia decided to add a third spinner to their lineup, ultimately choosing Matthew Kuhnemann to make his debut. Kuhnemann performed admirably, impressing the Australian coaching staff with his skills and performance. While he wasn’t able to turn the tide of the Test in Australia’s favor, Kuhnemann’s inclusion in the team was seen as a positive development for the young spinner, who could be an important player for the Australian side in the future.
Mitchell Swepson, the legspinner who had to travel home for the birth of his child, is also anticipated to rejoin the squad. During the second innings in Delhi, Todd Murphy, who is an impressive off-spinner, also struggled with side soreness. However, he is expected to have sufficient time between Tests to recover.
Despite suffering a side injury during the Delhi Test, the emerging spin sensation Todd Murphy managed to play through the discomfort. Australia coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful that Murphy will be fit for the upcoming Indore Test, which is scheduled to begin on March 1.
On Monday, McDonald informed the reporters that Todd Murphy had a minor side injury.
McDonald informed the press on Monday that Murphy had a minor side injury but is expected to fully recover before the next Test. McDonald expressed confidence that the time between the matches would be sufficient for the player’s recovery. Additionally, Murphy will not have a Test but will instead have a good workout two days before the match. The coach remained optimistic about Murphy’s chances.
The Border-Gavaskar Qantas Tour of India 2023 is just around the corner and cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the thrilling matches. Here’s a list of everything you need to know about this exciting tour:
Match Schedule:
- February 9-11: India won by an innings and 132 runs
- February 17-19: India won by six wickets
- March 1-5: Third Test, Indore, 3pm AEDT
- March 9-13: Fourth Test, Ahmedabad, 3pm AEDT
All matches will be broadcast live and exclusive on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.
The Australian squad comprises of Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Lance Morris, Todd Murphy, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith (vc), Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, and David Warner.
India Squad
Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul (vc), Shubman Gill, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KS Bharat, Ishan Kishan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav, Jaydev Unadkat.
Get ready for some action-packed cricket as Australia and India battle it out in this highly anticipated tour! Read more cricket news here at IPLwin India.
