Australia captain Pat Cummins will remain in Sydney and miss the third Test against India to be with his seriously ill mother.
Cummins flew home to Australia on Sunday night, immediately after the team’s second Test defeat to India in Delhi, to be around his family.
The 29-year-old on Thursday night informed coach Andrew McDonald of his decision to remain in Australia, with the rest of the squad told at training on Friday morning.
“I have decided against returning to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel I am best being here with my family,” Cummins said.
“I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding.”
Cummins intends to be available for the fourth and final Test in Ahmedabad, but it is possible he will sit out the rest of the series.
The star fast bowler was expected to return to India on Friday ahead of the third Test in Indore, starting on March 1.
However, Cummins’ family situation will prevent him from making the trip back, with Steve Smith to fill in as skipper.
It will be the third time Smith has stepped in as Test captain since Cummins became skipper in November 2021.
Cummins has been forced to sit out the two most recent pink-ball matches in Adelaide against England and the West Indies due to COVID-19 and injury.
Smith left the Australian camp in Delhi for a brief break to Dubai with wife Dani and arrived back in the Indian capital on Thursday night.
Pat Cummins of Australia chases a ball to the boundary. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Cummins’ absence is another blow for Australia’s hopes of winning at least one Test in this series to book their spot in the World Test Championship final.
Fast bowler Josh Hazlewood (achilles) and veteran opener David Warner (elbow) have been sent home due to injury, while bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar struggled with form and consistency during the tour and returned to Western Australia to play Sheffield Shield.
All-rounder Cameron Green is set to play his first Test of the series in Indore after overcoming a broken finger suffered at the MCG in December.
Green will likely come in for Matt Renshaw and bat at No.6, with Travis Head to remain as opener in place of Warner after a blazing cameo during the second innings in Delhi.
Star quick Mitchell Starc will almost certainly fill the void left by Cummins after the 33-year-old missed the first two Tests against India due to a broken finger.
Victorian paceman Scott Boland could also get a recall after dropping out of the XI following his appearance in the series opener in Nagpur.
Australia opted to play three spinners – Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matt Kuhnemann – and pick Cummins as their only recognised quick in Delhi.
Cummins’ absence could mean they stick with three spinners and use Starc and Green as their only seamers with fast bowlers only being used sparingly by both teams in the first two Tests.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
very choppy shame others can't acknowledge it it's now well documented his mum has had the cancer resurface some 12 months ago but it's very testing and awful time before palliative care. having been around a loved one for the months before pallative care it was pretty awful and palliative care provides some assistance from the awful stress of hands on assistance before the care allows you to spend time and prepare for the loss . sadly people like don are just vindictive on here even above he still has a go at Cummins saying he should have stepped aside and you rightly point out that he has now stepped aside choppy
Pierro
Roar Rookie
great post CAM so true
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
...down his own throat which he then gargled
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
It has been the case. And he has flown baçk to be with her so he has effectively stepped aside. Pat was appointed captain in November '21. So if his mums cancer resurfaced 12 months ago, he would have been in the job around three months. It may have been she had been getting treatment then and I dont think there were too many winter tests in 22 (may be mistaken). I admire him for his courage during this very difficult time.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
If that has been the case, he should have stepped aside.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Whats going on for Pat has a huge impact on his form and captaincy.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Should be.
Clear as mud
Guest
luckily for me i only lay into trolls like i am Gimli son of gloin. and myself.
Clear as mud
Guest
haha Pope you might have just heard me explode down your end at Marrickville as I read that one. i love it when you are so touchy Fili
Clear as mud
Guest
we are red hot on this at our work. remembering that nearly everyone brings something to work, sometimes multiple things. that you can't really see. but it's there. then when the general state of the everything is so fooked up, that just exacerbates.
Clear as mud
Guest
you started so well, then crapped your own pants
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Nice just disclosed this am Cummins mum's cancer resurfaced 12 months ago . paddy has been carrying this for 12 months . such a deep respect for the guy . it's definitely effected bus cricket more recently that's for sure must have been very hard to be away from home playing top level. sadly don and others were way off the mark in this one
nics
Roar Rookie
Unless Pat's mum unexpectedly went into palliative care overnight, it would be novel to suggest this has had no impact on his performances in the last two Tests (which are coincidentally the only two he's lost as captain from recollection). In my experience many patients in palliative care have had a long-term worsening serious condition that has taken a turn for the worse.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
twisting words read above. as usual don never admits where he makes an error or worse .
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Totally different conversations. All conversation about Pat's cricket and leadership preceded this. The problem is yours.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
don your selective memory knows no bounds above in your post quote en quote from you above “what’s going on for Pat has nothing to do with his form or captaincy” I think you may rop the record for clangers and bad calls on here but that’s just vindictive
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
He bowled 140-45 in the BBL and Marsh Cup matches I saw, but it wasn’t many games. But as I said, sheer pace means little in India. Brett Lee couldn’t even get the Indians out on slow pitches in Australia and had a hopeless record in England. As for leading the Shield bowling, he’s behind Paris, Kelly, Neser, Steketee in the averages, but obviously doing well.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
I have made no comment about that at all.
nics
Roar Rookie
I question the utility of talking sense to someone who believes “What’s going on for Pat has nothing to do with his form or captaincy”
Pierro
Roar Rookie
don stop manipulating the Cummins narrative you actively said above what is happening is not effecting Cummins form and that’s after you’ve been pouring scorn on him for some time even in the summer . get over your negativity for cummins this is not the time or place to make statements like you did above . as usual you won’t own your incorrect and vindictive comments