(Cricket news) Australia are not having a good time in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar trophy. The visitors are 2-0 down and both their losses have been really heavy. Injuries have not helped them as David Warner will miss the last 2 Tests due to injury. Josh Hazelwood picked up an injury just before the 1st Test and has now been ruled out of the series. Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green missed the first two Tests. Now skipper Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the 3rd Test due to a family issue. As of this moment it is unlikely that he will return for the 4th Test. 

However it could be a blessing in disguise for Australia. Cameron Green is now fit and should come back into the side in place of Matt Renshaw. He gives Australia an extra seam option which is really important as Australia played 3 spinners in the last match. Had Pat Cummins been available them Australia would’ve found it difficult to fit in Mitchell Starc. They would have to drop 1 spinner which means that Australia would’ve had 3 seamers and 2 spinners which isn’t ideal in Indian conditions. Now Starc will come into the side in place of Cummins which may prove to be an upgrade.

Cummins is a world class bowler, probably the best in the world. However Mitchell Starc is more explosive and better suited in the given conditions. Indian batters have traditionally had a problem with left arm seam. Steve Smith will assume captaincy of the team and he was the captain last time around in 2017 when Australia troubled India. Smith being a batter and a slip fielder will read the game better which is an advantage. Australia have played well in very small patches on this tour but they will have to do better. Whether Cummins absence is felt or not remains to be seen but it certainly isn’t a game changing loss.

Also read: The importance of India’s 3 spin bowling all-rounders