'Pat Cummins hints at reason for missing Sri Lanka tour: it's definitely a factor'

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has hinted that he could potentially be absent for the Test series against Sri Lanka in early 2025 as he anticipates the arrival of his second child. Recalling the time missed with his family following the birth of his first son, Albie, Cummins has shared his commitment to prioritize his family this time. The series is scheduled for late January and early February 2025, with the specific dates yet to be confirmed.

“Yeah it’s definitely a factor. We haven’t worked out exactly what that looks like – it’s pretty hard to plan exactly the day, but definitely,” Cummins told the media during an event as quoted by The Sydney Morning Herald. “I missed a big chunk [of son Albie’s early days] last time and I want to work out how we can spend a bit more time at home for that initial period this time around.

Recently, cricketers have increasingly prioritized their lives beyond the sport, embracing a culture that supports paternity leaves and mental health breaks. For instance, Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh missed Australia’s ODI squad against Pakistan as they take paternity leave to welcome their new babies into the world.

Pat Cummins has underscored a team culture that prioritizes life beyond cricket, asserting that focusing on personal well-being contributes to improved long-term performance and enables players to enjoy extended careers. This philosophy embodies his leadership style, promoting a healthy balance between professional and personal lives, which fosters resilience and sustainable success on the field.

“Within reason, no one is ever going to bat an eyelid if someone needs to put their family first. We’re playing cricket, it’s not the end of the world, so we want people to have long, successful careers for Australia, and you can’t just ask them to put their life on hold to go tour the world and forget about everything else. We’re pretty open when it comes to family.”

Cummins had to return home before the last two Tests against India last year to be with his mother during her final days. He expressed regret over missing time with his family after the birth of his first child in 2021, as he flew to the UAE for the ICC T20 World Cup just four days after Albie’s arrival.