Ashes 2021: Steve Smith wins the litter as Australia first in the Pink Ball Test
Australian substitute captain Steve Smith won the litter and decided, in the second day-night ashes test against England on Thursday (16.Cummins had to withdraw from the game after being identified as close contact with a positive COVID-19 case had been.
Cummins, who had dinner at the same Adelaide restaurant on Wednesday night as the COVID case, has been forced to isolate himself for seven days. Smith has regained the captaincy for the first time since the Newlands ball manipulation scandal in 2018, while vacant Paceman Michael Neser makes his test debut after replacing Cummins in the pace attack.
"It's a great honor, of course," said Smith, who is now the third captain in three Tests for Australia after Tim Paine's retirement before the series.
"It's been a pretty interesting morning, it went a little bit. Feel Patty missed this game but I'll try to follow the path he started last week and hopefully we can have a really good week."
Australia have now lost two frontline quick starts, with Josh Hazlewood also missing the second test after suffering a side load in Brisbane. He was replaced by the two-test sailor Jhye Richardson.
Travis Head was promoted to vice-captain. England picked pace veterans Stuart Broad, who will play his 150th Test, and James Anderson as he dumped weirdo Jack Leach after his nightmare test at the gabba, taking 1-102 in 13 overs.
Read More Here | Covid-19: The Scorchers vs Hurricanes game has been moved to Tasmania due to border issues
"We would have struck," said Captain Joe Root. "It looks a good finish, but we're getting a new pink ball early. Jack Leach missed it. It's a brave call, but we hope the sailors can take advantage of the terms." Australia lead the Five-Test series 1-0 after beating England by nine wickets in the first Test in Brisbane.
Teams:
Australia: Steve Smith (captain), Marcus Harris, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Jhye Richardson, Michael Neser
England: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes