Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins (Image Credit: Twitter)

Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the second Test of the two-match series against the West Indies, which will be played with the pink ball under lights on Thursday, December 8 at the Adelaide Oval. The Australian captain suffered a right quadriceps injury in the first Test and did not bowl for the final two days of Australia’s 164-run victory in Perth.

The veteran Australian batter Steven Smith will lead the squad in the absence of Cummins. Scott Boland has replaced him in the playing XI. The fast bowler has not played a Test since the three Ashes Tests against England last year. After Jason Gillespie, Boland is the country’s second domestic male Test cricketer.

IPL 2023 Auction | IND vs BAN 2022 | India vs Bangladesh 2022 | India National Cricket Team | IND vs SL 2023 | India vs Sri Lanka 2023 | IND vs NZ 2023 | India vs New Zealand 2023

Scott Boland Ashes Test
Photo Credit: (Twitter)

Cummins Is Expected To Return For The Opening Test Match Against South Africa

Australia’s management decided not to risk Cummins for the Test which was confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. Cummins’ recovery was started by the team’s medical staff in Adelaide, but the selectors decided that the fast bowler would not be fully fit for the match starting on Thursday.

Read More  Virat Kohli chasing a massive milestone as he steps on the field vs Gautam Gambhir's KKR
Pat Cummins
Pat Cummins (Image Credit: Twitter)

“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, which starts tomorrow. Cummins is expected to return for the opening Test match against South Africa in Brisbane,” a statement said as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Cummins has missed the pink ball test for the second time, and he was ruled out of last year’s Adelaide Test against England due to close contact with a Covid case. Vice-captain Smith led on that occasion and guided Australia to a 275-run victory.

Boland was the standout performer of Australia’s Ashes campaign at home, taking six wickets in the second innings of his debut match against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Despite taking 18 wickets at a 9.55 average in three matches, the 33-year-old has been on the bench in Australia’s overseas series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Steven Smith
Steven Smith. Pic Credits: Twitter.

With an eye on the World Test Championship final in June, Australia will be looking to put on a dominant performance in Adelaide and get closer to the final.

Also read: AUS vs WI: Lance Morris, Michael Neser Earn Australia Test Call-Up Against West Indies, Pat Cummins In Doubt For Adelaide

Virat Kohli | Rohit Sharma | Rishabh Pant | KL Rahul | Suryakumar Yadav | Sanju Samson | Shreyas Iyer | Yuzvendra Chahal | Jasprit Bumrah

Read More  Watch: Mukesh Kumar leaves Yashasvi Jaiswal dancing on the wicket, later insults him brutally with a send off