India is in Australia for a long tour. The ODI’S are done which the Aussies won by 2-0 and the T20 series is on which is in India’s hands as they lead the 3 match series by 2-0 with one to go.
The Australian side has seen many injuries in these 5 matches as key players have been ruled out or being rested due to injury scares in the camp.
Players like David Warner who was ruled out in the ODI series as he suffered a groin injury in the second ODI. Marcus Stoinis was injured in the ODI’S as well but he came out to play in the second T20 but didn’t bowl. Josh Hazelwood having back issues, Mitchell Starc pulling out of the limited overs leg, Pat Cummins needed a proper work management to ensure his full availability in the tests and Ashton Agar getting a calf injury in the final ODI. All these injuries led to Australia not going in with their best team into the ODI series.
The latest addition to this list was Australian captain Aaron Finch who suffered a glute injury in the first T20 against India. He was ruled out of the second T20 and Mathew Wade led the team in his absence. The Aussies lost the match to India by 6 wickets as they were victim to Hardik’s extraordinary finish.
When asked about why Smith didn’t lead the side in the second T20, head coach Justin Langer said that they had a process for this and they need to go through those process with Smith and that’ll take some time. He also added that they aren’t ruling out the possibility of Smith leading the side, but will take some time. He said that they are in process to make Smith the captain of this side.
Smith lost the captaincy after the ball tampering saga which took place in South Africa in March 2018. He was subsequently removed from captaincy, banned from the game for a year. His was not allowed to lead the Aussie side for a 2 year period, which ended in March this year.
Smith has lead the Aussie side in 8 T20I’s, 51 ODI’s and 34 tests in his time as Australia’s captain before the tampering saga.
