COLOMBO: Australia captain Steve Smith is to leave the tour of Sri Lanka and return home to rest ahead of their limited-overs series in South Africa before they host the Proteas at the start of a heavy home schedule.

Vice-captain David Warner will lead the side for the remaining three One-day Internationals and two Twenty20 matches against Sri Lanka.

“It’s obviously going to be a big summer with South Africa and then six tests at home then limited-overs matches against New Zealand,” Smith told reporters after his side lost the second One-day International against Sri Lanka by 82 runs in Colombo on Wednesday.

“It was talked about that they give me a little break at some point. We had a few discussions, myself, [coach] Darren [Lehmann] and Rod [Marsh], who also consulted with the other selectors.

“It took a bit of convincing to get me over the line because I hate missing cricket but in the long run a little bit of a break will do me the world of good.

“The schedule is very busy. I still want to take on the role in all three formats and do it to the best of my ability,” he added.

Australia were hammered 3-0 in the Test series, finding it difficult on the turning pitches in Sri Lanka, but achieved a three-wicket win in the first One-day International in Colombo.

Cricket Australia’s chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said Smith needed time off.

“Steve has a large amount of cricket coming up in the next 12 months and we wanted to find a time for him to freshen up and these last five matches provide a good opportunity to do so,” Marsh said in a statement.

“Regardless of the results of the first two matches our plan was always for Steve to take a break and refresh ahead of the ODI series against South Africa next month.

“This is a great leadership opportunity for David, he has really embraced his role as vice-captain and we are confident he will do a great job in Steve’s place.”

Meanwhile, fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has also been ruled out of the remaining three ODIs in the Sri Lanka tour with a lower back injury and will not be replaced in the squad, Cricket Australia said.

“Nathan had been experiencing a gradual increase in lower back pain which is now preventing him from bowling at match intensity,” Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said.

Peter Nevill, Australia’s wicket-keeper for Tests, will replace Matthew Wade for the two T20 matches with batsman Chris Lynn and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell also joining the 13-man squad for the shortest format.

T20 squad: David Warner (captain), Scott Boland, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Published in Dawn, August 26th, 2016

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