Steve Smith will take charge once again of the Australian Test side in the 2nd Test against West Indies, starting Thursday at the Adelaide Oval, after regular captain Pat Cummins was ruled out due to a quad strain that he’d picked up in the Perth Test.
It has been confirmed that Cummins will be replaced in the line-up by right-arm seamer Scott Boland, who took 18 wickets in 3 Ashes Tests at home.
“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,” a statement said. “Cummins is expected to return for the opening Test match against South Africa in Brisbane.”
Steve Smith, the designated vice-captain and deputy to Cummins, will lead the side for the second time since his captaincy ban had ended. He captained Australia in the Ashes as well, in the Adelaide Test, when Cummins was out due to being a close covid-19 contact.
Scott Boland averages only 9.55 in Test cricket so far
“There’s a bit more time to prepare for this game than last year, that was chaotic. I have to do it my own way, I can’t try and be someone else,” Smith said.
“When something like this happens we have plans in place for certain batters, but ultimately it’s what the game entails is what needs to be done. I’m pretty chilled, I took over the game here last year and it went pretty smoothly.”
In Perth, Cummins bowled 20.2 overs in West Indies’ first innings, and didn’t come out to bowl in West Indies’ second innings. But the other bowlers didn’t need him, with Nathan Lyon bowling 42.5 overs in that innings for his 6 wickets, helping Australia win by 164 runs.
Australia have a jam-packed schedule. After these two Tests vs West Indies, they hosts South Africa for a 3-Test series. They will tour India in February for 4 Tests and then play an away Ashes in the summer. Managing fast bowlers’ workload is going to be key, while also not risking the WTC points.
“I don’t think [Cummins] was too far away,” Smith said. “With what’s coming up with a big series against South Africa and Tests in India, there is a lot of cricket.
“From a strategic point of view, to have the possibility of going down and putting the load through the other quicks after they bowled some overs during the Perth Test. It would have been a risky decision to continue going, so I think we have made the right call.”
