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Ahead of the ODI series against India, Australia captain Pat Cummins has confirmed that Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell will not be taking part in the first ODI of the three-match series, starting from September 22 at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. Steve Smith on the other hand is set to make his return.
However, Aussie skipper Cummins also said that he will be taking part in all three matches of the ODI series. Notably, due to injuries sustained in the Ashes earlier this year, all three players alongside Steve Smith missed out on playing the series against South Africa.
Australia added both Starc and Maxwell in their squad for the series against India and both arrived with the rest of the team in India. Starc was spotted taking part in fitness drills at the Punjab Cricket Association in Mohali while fit again Steve Smith batted in the nets for more than 2 hours on Wednesday.
“We have got plenty of people at different stages. I am feeling pretty good, my wrist is all healed now, 100 percent. I was running around at the nets, this afternoon. I hope to play tomorrow. Hoping to play all 3 games,” Cummins said.
“Trying to think of a long list. Starc is here, (but) he won’t play tomorrow. But hopefully, he will be available later on the series. Yeah, he won’t play tomorrow. But I hope he will come on and play a part later on. He had been bowling in Sydney. He will bowl today or tomorrow. We are all tracking him. The time frame is similar for Maxwell,” he added.
Pat Cummins missed out on touring South Africa due to a wrist fracture he sustained during the final Ashes Test while Steve Smith missed the same series due to a wrist tendon issue. Pacer Starc was suffering from groin soreness and hence he decided to opt out of the South Africa series while Maxwell was ruled out because of an ankle issue.
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