INDORE Australia skipper Pat Cummins has opted out of the third Test against India on account of family emergency and his deputy Steve Smith will lead the side in the contest, beginning March 1 in Indore.

Before the third Test, it was expected that Cummins would return and re-join the team, but now it's possible that he won't even play in the fourth. Since being returned as vice-captain in 2021, when Cummins replaced Tim Paine as captain, Smith will be leading Australia in Test matches for the third time. After the second Test, Smith travelled to Dubai with his wife Dani before rejoining the Australian team on Thursday night in Delhi.

The Australian team's balance was severely harmed by the absence of all-rounder Cameron Green in the first two games due to a fractured finger. Green is healthy and is expected to play in the third Test at the Holkar Stadium.

Australia would have a second seam-bowling option with Green's comeback. In Delhi, Cummins was the only quick.

"When you come in as an all-rounder, you might be able to help out with team balance maybe a little bit," Green said  on Friday."It will be interesting to see which way the selectors go for this game." Senior pacer Mitchell Starc is also expected to be available and could be a direct replacement for Cummins in the playing XI.

Meanwhile, Smith spent four days in Dubai with his wife Dani following the second Test before re-joining the Australia squad in Delhi on Thursday evening (India time), when he was informed of Cummins’ decision to remain at home for the next Test.

Cummins flies back home due to family Health issues

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