Steve Smith will continue to lead Australia in the fourth and final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India as regular skipper Pat Cummins has decided not to return for the series decider, slated to get underway on March 9 in Ahmedabad.
Cummins had flown back home to attend his ailing mother after Australia’s six-wicket defeat in the second Test in Delhi. He was supposed to return before the third Test but decided to stay put in Sydney to be with his family in this difficult time.
Notably, Cummins’ mother Maria is suffering from breast cancer and is in palliative care.
A call on his availability for the three-match ODI series starting March 17, will be taken later but it is unlikely that the right-arm pacer will return. In that case, Smith might lead the Australian side in the 50-over series as well.
"Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the fourth Test against India in Ahmedabad to remain in Australia with his family," Cricket Australia said in a brief statement.
"Steve Smith will captain Australia in the final Test of this series."
Smith led Australia exceptionally well in the third Test in Indore as the visitors won the game by nine wickets to stay alive in the series.
Indore Test was the third instance of Steve Smith leading the Test side since his reinstatement as vice-captain in 2021. However, he has no ambition to return as full-time captain.
"My time is done. It's Pat's team now," Smith had said after the third Test.
"I've obviously been able to stand in this week, obviously in tough circumstances with Patty going home. Our thoughts are still with him back home," he added.
"But India is a part of the world I love captaining ... it's probably my favourite place in the world to captain."
In another development, fast bowler Jhye Richardson has been ruled out of the ODI series against India due to a left hamstring injury. He picked up the injury while playing club cricket.
Nathan Ellis, who has represented Australia in three ODIs and five T20Is so far, has been called up as Richardson's replacement.
