Ashes: Steve Smith reveals chat with Pat Cummins after returning as Australia captain for Adelaide Test

Ashes, 2nd Test: Steve Smith replaced Pat Cummins as Australia captain for the day-night Test in Adelaide after the fast bowler was ruled out due to a Covid-19 scare. Smith won the toss and opted to bat on Day 1 of the pink-ball Test.

Stand-in captain Steve Smith said on Thursday that Pat Cummins wished him the best for the 2nd Ashes Test after the fast bowler was ruled out of the day-night affair in Adelaide after coming in close contact with a Covid positive person on Wednesday.

Smith revealed a chat with Pat Cummins on the morning of the 2nd Test, saying the skipper told him that it was his team this week and wished him luck. Smith returned to the captaincy role 3 years after he was sacked as the skipper of the Australian Test team over the controversial Sandpaper Gate. Smith served a one-year ban from cricket and Cricket Australia also barred him from holding any leadership role for 2 years after that fateful day in March 2018.