After team management decided not to risk Pat Cummins in the 2nd Test after the Australian captain couldn't bowl on the final two days of the Perth Test. Cummins sustained a quadricep injury during the match and has been excluded from the 2nd Test against West Indies. 

Young pacer Scott Boland, who impressed with his bowling in the Ashes against England, is set to take Pat Cummins' place in the playing XI. While the responsibility of captaincy will be Steve Smith. 

Steve Smith was barred from holding leadership roles in the senior national team after he admitted to his participation in helping Cameron Bancroft in the infamous ball-tampering saga at Cape Town in 2018. Smith was also banned from cricket for a year but now has been handed the captaincy in the absence of Pat Cummins. 

Australia Will Be Without Pat Cummins In The day/night Test!#Cricket #AUSvWI #Australia #SteveSmith pic.twitter.com/Le8f29E1Su

— CRICKETNMORE (@cricketnmore) December 7, 2022

Steve Smith also captained the Australian side in the Adelaide Test against England last year when Cummins has deemed a close contact to a Covid-19 infected. 

While Australia comfortably won the 1st Test against West Indies at Perth, the 2nd and final Test is set to be played at Adelaide. Visitors West Indies would look to square the 2-match series with a win, while Australia would eye a series win. The 2nd Test will start on December 8th (Thursday).