Smith captains Australia in Test against West Indies as Cummins suffers mild quad soreness


Perth, Dec 3 (IANS): Australia batter Steve Smith has stepped in to captain the side in their ongoing first Test against the West Indies at Perth after regular skipper Pat Cummins did not take the field due to mild quad soreness.

Cummins had claimed 3/34 from 20.2 overs in the first innings of the match, and also reached 200 Test wickets. For the fourth innings of the match, where Australia have set West Indies a target of 498, he was replaced by substitute fielder Scott Boland for the afternoon session on day four.

"Pat Cummins is experiencing some mild right sided quadricep soreness. "He will continue to be monitored by team medical staff and his availability to bowl in the second innings will be assessed on an ongoing basis," said Cricket Australia in a statement on Saturday.

Smith had captained Australia during last summer's Ashes Test against England in Adelaide, when Cummins was ruled out of the match after being deemed a close contact of a Covid-19 positive testing person at a restaurant.

Cummins' absence also leaves Australia without one of their strike bowlers in their experienced bowling line-up as they are hunt in hunt for the ten West Indies wickets to win the match and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

It also means that Australia have to rejig their bowling plans. Fast-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green may be required to contribute more with the ball while part-time spin of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head may be needed too.

Cummins declared Australia's second innings at lunch on day four, shortly after Labuschagne made an unbeaten 104, adding to the 204 he smacked in the first innings. It is not yet clear if Cummins is in doubt for the second Test against the West Indies at Adelaide Oval starting from Thursday.

 

  

Top Stories


Leave a Comment

Title: Smith captains Australia in Test against West Indies as Cummins suffers mild quad soreness



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.