AUS vs WI: Australian skipper Pat Cummins has been officially ruled out of the second Test against West Indies. Steve Smith is all set to lead Australia in the second Test of the two-match Test series where the Aussies lead by 1-0.
Cricket Australia decided to rest Pat as the team of medical professionals in Adelaide found him unfit sustaining a quadricep injury he picked in Perth. Fast bowler Scott Boland will replace Cummins in the upcoming game on Thursday.
Last year, Cummins missed the Adelaide test against England as he was declared a close Covid-19 contact with Smith again leading the Aussies.
Cummins failed to bowl during the last two days of the first test against the West Indies as Australia won big with a margin of 164 runs. Cummins is most likely expected to return fit to lead Australia by next week for the First Test against South Africa.
“Team medical staff commenced Cummins’ recovery in Adelaide but selectors deemed there was not sufficient time for the fast bowler to be fully fit for the match,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.
Right-arm fast bowler Scott Boland last played for the national side in December 2021 against England as he bagged seven wickets in the game with 6 for 7 in an innings. With an average of 9.55, he took 18 wickets in the three final tests of the Ashes. Boland was seen training in the nets on Tuesday evening where he bowled spectacularly.
“It’s nice to be able to train alongside those guys who are obviously the best in the world,” Boland said in a statement.
“I have to do it my own way, I can’t be someone else,” Smith said as he promises to justify his role as a captain. “I am pretty chilled – I took over for the game here last year and thought it went pretty smoothly. So same again.”
The second Test will be played from December 8 to December 12 at Adelaide Oval.
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