The fifth Test match of the ongoing IND vs AUS Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to start on January 3 at the SCG. India are trailing 2-1 in the series after their recent loss at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Several reports from Indian media are stating that India’s Test captain, Rohit Sharma, is set to opt out of the team for the final Test owing to his extended poor batting form and the team’s performance. Jasprit Bumrah is set to replace him as the captain at the SCG. In this article, we will take a look at the three instances when a captain was dropped from the team mid-series.
Three instances of a captain resigning midway through a Test series:
1. Hashim Amla
Hashim Amla resigned from his Test captaincy of the South Africa Cricket Team after the completion of the second Test match against England in Cape Town. AB de Villiers became the captain of the team for the remainder of the series. Proteas released a statement clarifying that Amla took the decision in the best interests of the team and wanted to work on his own game. He was in the firing line right when his team lost the series against India away by a margin of 3-0.
2. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni resigned from India’s Test captaincy after the end of the third Test in Melbourne against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Virat Kohli replaced him as the captain in the fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Dhoni was under pressure after his side were whitewashed 4-0 in England and Australia. Moreover, Dhoni wanted to reduce his workload ahead of the 2015 ODI World Cup in Australia.
3. Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan, England’s triumphant captain from the 2005 Ashes, stepped down mid-series in 2006 after a loss to South Africa, led by Graeme Smith. This mirrored the exit of his predecessor, Nasser Hussain, who also resigned during a home Test series against Smith’s South Africa.
So, if the reports go on to be true for the SCG Tets, then a massive decision will be made. India have lost five out of the last six Tests captained by Rohit Sharma. Bumrah captained the team to a 295-run win against Australia in the first Test in Perth.
