Ashes: Steve Smith to captain Australia as Pat Cummins ruled out of Adelaide day-night Test due to Covid scare

Ashes, 2nd Test: Australia captain Pat Cummins has been ruled out of the day-night Test in Adelaide after it emerged that he came in close contact with a Covid-19 positive person. Steve Smith will lead Australia for the first time since the ball-tampering scandal.

Australia suffered a huge blow, hours ahead of the start of the 2nd Ashes Test in Adelaide as their captain Pat Cummins was ruled out after being deemed as a close contact of a Covid-19 positive person. Steve Smith, who was appointed as vice-captain ahead of the big-ticket series, will lead Australia in the day-night Test, starting December 16.

Travis Head will be the vice-captain for the Adelaide Test while pacer Michael Neser will make his debut, becoming Australia's 462nd men's Test cricketer.