Smith set to keep captaincy for Champions Trophy
Steve Smith is poised to remain Australia captain for the ICC Champions Trophy in the absence of Pat Cummins.
Stand-in skipper Smith was player of the series in Australia’s 2-0 Test series whitewash of Sri Lanka in Galle, with an ankle injury and personal leave ruling Pat Cummins out.
He is expected to retain the captaincy for the two-match one-day international series against Sri Lanka that begins in Colombo on Wednesday afternoon AEDT.
Marcus Stoinis (retirement) and Josh Hazlewood (side strain) have also been ruled out of the Champions Trophy.
Australia will finalise its squad ahead of the tournament that will be staged in Pakistan and United Arab Emirates from next week.
India will have to do without Jasprit Bumrah in the Champions Trophy. (Getty Images: Daniel Pockett)
Meanwhile, India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah was ruled out of the Champions Trophy after failing to recover from a lower-back injury.
Bumrah suffered back spasms during the final Test against Australia at the SCG last month.
The injury also ruled him out of a five-match T20 international series with England.
His absence will be a major blow to India, with the 31-year-old widely considered one of the best all-format fast bowlers.
Bumrah was superb for India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, taking 32 wickets at an average of 13.06 across the five Tests.
He has taken 149 wickets in 89 ODIs at an average of 23.55 and a strike rate of 30.7.
AAP/Reuters
