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The Australian cricket team has been jolted with another blow as their Test skipper Pat Cummins will now miss the third Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The news broke out on Friday morning when Cricket Australia informed that Cummins returned to Sydney this week due to a family illness.
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The Australian cricket board was informed in a statement that Cummins mother is ill and in palliative care. With a gap of nine days between the second and the third Test, the 29-year-old hoped to return in time but will now miss the third and crucial Test of the series.
“I have decided against returning to India at this time. I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding,” Cricket Australia quoted Cummins.
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However, Cricket Australia has named Steven Smith as his replacement at the helm for the third Test. The Aussie team will now have some worries as veteran batter David Warner, Ashton Agar and pacer Josh Hazlewood all have been ruled out of the remainder series with injuries and other reasons.
The third Test will kick start from March 1, 2023 at the Holkar Stadium (Indore) with the fourth and final Test scheduled to be played in Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium from March 9.
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