Maria Cummins, mother of Australia Test captain Pat Cummins, has died after battling a prolonged illness. Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the news through a tweet on Friday morning, ahead of the start of Day 2 of the ongoing fourth Test between India and Australia at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. CA also confirmed that the Australia players will don “black armbands as a mark of respect” for Pat Cummins and his family.
“We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends. The Australian Men’s team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect,” CA tweeted.
Cummins had flown back home to be with his ailing mother, who was placed into palliative care, following the conclusion of the second Test in Delhi last month.
I feel I am best being here with my family. I appreciate the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thanks for your understanding,” Cummins said, while explaining his decision to leave India.
The 29-year-old had revealed that his mother, who was sadly first diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2005, had been battling a serious illness in recent weeks.
On 26 November 2021, Cummins was announced as the 47th captain of the Australian Test team, following the resignation of veteran wicketkeeper-batter Tim Paine. He is the first fast bowler to take on the role of full-time Australian Test captain.
Australia captain Pat Cummins’ mother, Maria Cummins, passed away on Friday after battling a prolonged illness in Sydney.
Australia players on Friday wore black armbands on the second day of the series-deciding fourth Test against India to pay homage to skipper Pat Cummins’ mother.
Maria, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, had been battling serious illness in the last few weeks after it relapsed. She died at her home on Thursday night.
The Australian players got the tragic news from coach Andrew McDonald before the start of day two of the final Test here.
“We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight,” Cricket Australia said in a statement on Friday.
“On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends.
“The Australian men’s team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect.” Cummins, who had led Australia in the first two Tests, had left for Sydney to be by the side of his ailing mother, who was in palliative care last month.
In his absence, Steve Smith captained the side to a nine-wicket win in the Indore Test.
Australia were 255/4 after the opening day with Usman Khawaja (104) scoring an unbeaten hundred and Cameron Green making 49 not out.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent a condolence message to cricketer Pat Cummins, whose mother, unfortunately, passed away due to illness.
The Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese took to his official Twitter handle on Friday and sent a condolence message to Australian Test captain Pat Cummins. The cricketer’s mother Maria Cummins unfortunately passed away on Thursday night, after a battle with breast cancer. The Australian players were spotted wearing black armbands on Day 2 of India vs Australia 4th Test as an homage to Cummins’ mother
Meanwhile, the Australian PM Albanese also shared his feelings and said, ‘Very sad to learn Maria Cummins has passed away. My deepest sympathies to @patcummins30 and his family for their loss. All Australians will be thinking of you today’. This comes a day after Anthony Albanese and Indian PM Narendra Modi attended the opening day of the fourth Test match.
PM Narendra Modi and Anthony Albanese watch IND vs AUS 4th Test
Both Prime Ministers marked 75 years of friendship between both nations through cricket, during a grand ceremony at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The stand-in Aussie skipper received a cap from the Australian PM, while PM Modi presented a cap to the Indian captain Rohit Sharma. It is worth noting that, Cummins led Australia in the first two games of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, before traveling back to the country to be by the side of his mother.
Having said that, the BCCI sent condolences to Cummins on Friday and said, ‘On behalf of Indian Cricket, we express our sadness at the passing away of Pat Cummins mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in this difficult period’.
On the other hand, Cricket Australia said, ‘We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends. The Australian Men’s team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect’.