ADELAIDE, Australia (AP) — Just before Wednesday’s coin toss, Australia star Steve Smith has been ruled out of the third Ashes Test against England due to a long-term illness.
Smith guided Australia to eight wins in Perth and Brisbane in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins. He hit the winning run in Brisbane to give Australia a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
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Veteran Usman Khawaja was recalled to the starting lineup after replacing Smith at the last minute. Khawaja missed the second Test with a back injury.
Fast bowler Cummins won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test after recovering from a back problem. England need victory in the third test to have any chance of regaining the Ashes.
Players wore black armbands in memory of the 15 people killed and dozens injured in an anti-Semitic attack on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday against a Jewish community celebrating the start of Hanukkah.
Police described the mass shooting as an Islamic State-inspired terror attack.
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Flags were flown at half-mast at Adelaide Oval on the first day of the third Test.
Cricket Australia invited folk singer John Williamson to sing his legendary song “True Blue” in a pre-match program that included a moment of silence, the Aboriginal “Welcome to Country” and the Australian and English national anthems.
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AP Cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
