IND vs AUS: Australia to practice in Delhi before Indore Test

The Australian cricket team will continue their practice in Delhi at the Arun Jaitley Stadium before departing for Indore for the third Test in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

The Australian team have lost both their Test matches against India and currently trail by two Tests in the series, with the third match scheduled to begin on March 1.

Confirming the report, the Aussie team came for practice in the morning at Arun Jaitley Stadium with all players. They practiced for around 4 to 5 hours, and they will leave for Indore on Sunday from Delhi.

After winning the second Test on the third day at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Sunday, Team India players returned to their homes as the Test match finished two days ahead of schedule. The players decided to spend time with their families and will rejoin the squad in Indore on February 25.

Steve Smith will lead the Australian Test team against India in the third Test match in Indore starting on March 1 because Pat Cummins will not be returning next week from Australia due to family reasons.

Cummins had to fly back home to Sydney after losing the second Test match. He explained in a statement that his mother ‘is ill and in palliative care.’

He was supposed to return to India because there was a nine-day break between the second Test match in New Delhi and the third Test match in Indore. “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,” said Australian captain Pat Cummins, as per cricket.com.au.

The 29-year-old pacer’s absence is the latest blow to Aussie hopes in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series. Earlier, pacer Josh Hazlewood and opener David Warner returned home due to injuries. Left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will likely replace his captain and lead the pace attack.

Smith has captained Australia in 34 Tests between 2014 and 2018, including Australia’s most recent Test tour of India in 2017, a controversy-marred campaign in which Smith dominated with the bat, scoring three centuries. In the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, he has scored 71 runs in four innings at an average of 23.66.

India has an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing four-match Test series, and captain Pat Cummins’ absence will make things more difficult for the visitors.