Steve Smith is the third captain for Australia in three consecutive Tests.
More than three years after he was fired as Australia captain, and three hours after new captain Pat Cummins was ousted because he was exposed to a man with COVID-19, Steve Smith said on Thursday, 16 Won the toss and elected on December, 2021. to bat against England in the second test of Ashes Cricket Series,
Smith is the third captain for Australia in three consecutive Tests.
Tim Paine, who replaced Smith as Test captain in 2018 following the infamous “sandpapergate” scandal in South Africa, quit last month after reports surfaced that he was investigated for sending inappropriate texts to a work colleague four years ago. was done.
The 28-year-old Cummins was selected to lead Australia in the Ashes and made his captaincy debut at the Gabba last week, where Australia won by nine wickets.
Now Smith is back.
“It’s a huge honor,” Smith said after tossing the coin at the Adelaide Oval.
‘Two changes in Australian attack’
“It’s been a very interesting morning.” Cummins’ message to the day-nighter, Smith said, “Good luck. Take advantage of it. This week it’s your team. Keep going.” Cummins’ late lapse and Josh Hazlewood’s side strain mean there are two changes to the Australian bowling attack, with Hazlewood replacing Jhye Richardson and 31-year-old Michael Neser with a late call to make his Test debut.
England recalled Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad for the pink ball match after their most experienced bowlers were ruled out of the Brisbane Test. Jack Leach was dropped, leaving England without a specialist spinner in the second Test.
England captain Joe Root said, ‘Great opportunity for both of them to lead from the front.
Root won the toss in the first Test and elected to bat at the Gabba, but the tourists were dealt an immediate blow when Mitchell Starc bowled Rory Burns on the first ball of the series. England were bundled out for 147 on the first day and Australia took advantage of 278 runs in reply to 425.
Australia, who have won eight of the eight day-night Test matches, were the heavy favorites in Adelaide but Cummins’ absence could have turned things around.
Cricket Australia said in a statement on Thursday morning that Cummins was exposed to the COVID-19 case while he was dining at a restaurant the previous night.
He was considered a close contact by the state health officials and ordered to isolate for seven days. Cummins has already returned a negative test for COVID-19.
“Disappointed to miss this Test, but excited to see Neser finally get his chance at Baggy Green,” Cummins said in a Twitter post.
“He has worked hard and is a seriously skilled player.” This will be Smith’s first appearance as captain since the Cape Town, South Africa ball-tampering scandal in 2018, which cost him the captaincy and subsequent two-year leadership ban, as well as 12 from representing Australia. month suspension.
Cricket Australia said fellow Australia bowlers Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon were dining with Cummins at the same restaurant on Wednesday night, but at a different table outside. SA Health said Starc and Lyon were casual contacts and are free to play.
Teams:
Australia: David Warner, Marcus Harris, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey, Michael Neser, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson, Mitchell Starc.
England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, David Malan, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson.
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