In Short
- Pat Cummins is set to leave India over a private family matter
- Australia have been drubbed in their first 2 Test matches of the series
- Australia need to avoid a cleansweep to reach the WTC Final
Australia captain Pat Cummins will fly back home in the middle of the high-profile India vs Australia Test series to attend a private family matter, Australian media reported in the early hours of Monday, 20 February. Cummins is expected to join the team back ahead of the 3rd Test match, set to begin on March 1 in Indore.
Under the leadership of Cummins, Australia have not fared well in the subcontinent in the ongoing tour, losing back to back Test matches. They have fallen flat against the spin Test and have succumbed to defeats inside the first three days of both Tests – in Nagpur and New Delhi. Australia are under threat of crashing out of the World Test Championship final if they get cleansweeped by India in the series. Coming into the four-match tour, Australia were primed to play the final in England, against either India, Sri Lanka or South Africa.
However, as things stand, India are vying for a spot in the final with Sri Lanka, while Australia might get knocked out of the race altogether. Australia did not give a good account of themselves in Delhi, with batters folding once again in a little over one session of play. In their second innings, despite starting well and closing Day 2 on 61/1 Australia were bowled out for just 113 runs in the morning session of Day 3.
Speaking after the game, Cummins had said that his batters needed to apply themselves better and find a way to score runs in India.
“I think there will be a review. Shot choice, did we go about it the right way?” Cummins had said after the match.
“Unfortunately, quite a few of us got out with kind of cross-batted shots, which might not be our preferred method,” he had further added.
Trace Hane
Benny Borer
Isaac Tremblay