As regular captain Pat Cummins has decided not to return to India, star batter Steve Smith will lead Australia in the fourth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
According to cricket.com.au, Smith will captain Australia again after leading the team to a morale-boosting nine-wicket win in the third Test in Indore last week. Cummins, who left the tour after the second Test in Delhi last month, will remain in Sydney, where his mother Maria is battling breast cancer and receiving palliative care.
The report did not specify whether Cummins will play in the upcoming ODI series against India.
Pacer Nathan Ellis has been named to the Australia squad for the ODI series beginning March 17.
After leading Australia to a famous win, Smith suggested that his time as captain is “done” and it’s now “Pat’s team”.
“My time is up. “It’s Pat’s team now,” Smith told reporters following the nine-wicket victory. “Obviously, I’ve been able to stand in this week, despite the fact that Patty is leaving. Our thoughts are still with him in his home country.
“But India is a part of the world I enjoy captaining… it’s probably my favourite place in the world to captain.
“Every ball is an event that can dictate what happens next, which is something I really enjoy, and you have to be ahead of the game.
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“So I thought I did well this week, and it was a lot of fun.”
If Cummins is ruled out of the ODIs, Australia could turn to Smith or Alex Carey.
