Pat Cummins is expected to miss Australia’s two-match Test tour of Sri Lanka, scheduled for late January or early February next year, as he awaits the birth of his second child with wife Becky. This series will be Australia’s final fixtures before the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) final. Cummins and his team are currently preparing to host Pakistan for a series of white-ball matches, followed by the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India.
In an interview with smh.com.au, Cummins shared that he intends to prioritize family during this significant time. He recalled having missed a “big chunk” of his son Albie’s early days after his birth in late 2021. This time, the Australian captain aims to spend more time at home during the initial period surrounding his new child’s arrival.
Cummins also emphasized that Australia’s cricketing culture is supportive of players prioritizing family over cricket, stating that no one “bats an eyelid” when players choose to be with their families.
He is not alone in this approach; teammates Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh plan to take paternity leave during Australia’s upcoming white-ball fixtures against Pakistan. The Australian cricket team will host Pakistan for three ODIs and three T20Is from November 4 to November 18, leading up to their five-match Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India. As the players navigate these important life events, the team’s dynamics may shift, but family remains a priority.
