Australian Magazine

Pat Cummins, the captain of the Australian cricket team, has gone from being a fast bowler in the Blue Mountains to a global leader. He balances being a father, dealing with injuries, and being a captain with doing humanitarian work and running businesses. Cummins keeps redefining modern sportsmanship with honesty and purpose. He turned down $10 million T20 offers, put money into local brewing, and worked with UNICEF and his Howzat Pat! books to help kids learn to read.

The Rise of Pat Cummins-From the Blue Mountains to the Top of World Cricket

Pat Cummins was born on May 8, 1993, in Westmead, Sydney. He grew up in the Blue Mountains, which had a big impact on his personality and later business ventures. His mother, Maria, was a devoted teacher who taught him to respect education for the rest of his life. This belief is still what drives him to fight for literacy today.

Cummins looked up to Brett Lee as a child, and later, incredibly, the two would become mentor and student. He made a huge splash in his first Test match against South Africa in 2011, taking seven wickets at the age of 18. This marked the start of a great Australian career. Even though he had a lot of injuries over the years, Cummins’ strength, discipline, and humility never wavered.

Pat Cummins and Becky Boston-Family First

In 2015, Pat Cummins met Becky Boston, an interior designer from the UK. Their relationship grew stronger in private, away from the public eye. The couple got married in Sydney and made a life for themselves that balances sports with stability.

In October 2021, they had a son named Albie. In February 2025, they had a daughter named Edith (Edi). There were heartfelt Instagram posts announcing both arrivals that started with “She’s here…”

Cummins has taken paternity leave twice, which is unusual in professional cricket. He said:

“It’s not the end of the world; we’re playing cricket.” If someone puts their family first, no one will care.

His actions have made family priorities normal in a sport that is very demanding, which shows that elite teams are becoming more understanding and empathetic.

Heartbreak and Strength-The Loss That Changed Pat Cummins Forever

Cummins found out that his mother, Maria, had terminal brain cancer while he was playing in the 2021 IPL bubble. The death of his mother in early 2023 had a huge impact on how he saw life and leadership.

He is now a mental health and player welfare advocate, and he often says that leadership is “as much about compassion as competition.”

Pat Cummins is the 47th Test Captain of Australia

Cummins’ life changed again in late 2021 when he became Australia’s 47th Test captain, just days after his first child was born. In his book Tested, his wife remembers that day:

“We had just gotten home from the hospital when I found him crying on the floor while he was packing. It was great news, but the timing was terrible.

Even though things were emotionally crazy, Cummins stepped up without any problems. With him as captain, everything was calm and planned:

• The Ashes series in 2021–22 was won by Australia 4–0.
• Won the World Test Championship in 2023.
• Kept the Ashes in England in 2023.
• Won back the 2025 Border-Gavaskar Trophy 3–1.

His style combines data, gut feelings, and emotional intelligence, which are all qualities that have changed what it means to be the captain of Australia’s men’s cricket team.

Pat Cummins’ Leadership Philosophy in Tested

HarperCollins will publish Tested in October 2024. It looks at how Cummins handles responsibility and resilience. It has talks with Julia Gillard, John Bertrand, Dennis Lillee, and Nedd Brockmann, each of whom gives a different view on what it means to be a leader.

Cummins says:

• “Becoming a dad and a captain were two of the biggest things that ever happened to me at the same time.”

He says that Becky keeps him grounded:

• “She keeps me from getting too big for my boots and helps me when I’m having trouble.”

At his Dymocks Literary Dinner in November 2024, he said to the guests:

• “Being a leader isn’t about how you look. It’s about being the same person on the pitch, at home and in the news.

Fighting injuries and doubts about the Ashes

By the middle of 2025, Cummins was out of the game because of a lumbar bone stress injury that was found after the West Indies series. Since then, he has only been able to work out at the gym and ride his bike. He is waiting for scans in late October to see if he can play in the Ashes opener in Perth on November 21.

He said:

• “You can’t go from no bowling to full speed overnight.” It takes a long time to get going.

Coach Andrew McDonald said:

• “It’s not perfect, but we hope he’ll be important.”
• Josh Hazlewood, a teammate, said that back injuries “aren’t something you push.”

Experts have had their say:

• Mark Taylor: “It’s a worry that people are skipping warm-ups because you can’t fake match intensity.”
• Bharat Sundaresan: “It would be a crime if Cummins missed all five Tests.”
• Brett Lee says, “Don’t rush it; only play when you’re 100% fit.”

If he doesn’t play in the first Test, Steve Smith will be captain, Travis Head will be vice-captain, and Scott Boland will probably lead the bowling attack.

The $10 Million T20 Offer-Putting Loyalty Before Luxury

An IPL ownership group made informal offers of $10 million a year to Cummins and Travis Head in 2025 to stop playing international cricket and play full-time for a franchise. Both said no, choosing to stay loyal to Australia.

The news caused a lot of discussion among Cricket Australia, the players’ union, and the state associations about whether or not to privatise the Big Bash League to keep players.

Cummins makes about $3 million a year (including his captaincy) and $3.7 million from IPL 2024 with Sunrisers Hyderabad, but he is still dedicated to his country.

He told his coworkers that playing for Australia “still means more than any pay cheque.”

Baby Edith’s birth and time away from cricket

Cummins and Becky welcomed baby Edith, or “Edi,” in February 2025. Social media lit up with pictures of Pat holding her at Bronte Beach with the caption “Edi’s first trip to the beach.”

He didn’t go on Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka or the Champions Trophy (Pakistan and UAE, Feb. 19–Mar. 9) because he wanted to spend time with his family and heal from an ankle flare-up.

While he was gone:

• Australia won 2–0 against Sri Lanka.
• Steve Smith was a great captain and scored hundreds in both Tests.
• In the first game, Matthew Kuhnemann got nine wickets.
• Cummins’ leadership bench strength was shown when both Smith and Head did very well.

Pat Cummins the Businessman-Putting Money into Mountain Culture Brewing Co

Cummins’ ties to the Blue Mountains led him to invest in Mountain Culture Brewing Co. in 2024. This is one of Australia’s fastest-growing craft breweries, with a 33% year-on-year growth rate.

Founders Harriet and DJ McCready praised how involved he was:

• “He doesn’t just want to be a pretty face; he gets his hands dirty.”

DJ McCready said:

• Katoomba is the centre of innovation.
• Emu Plains is in charge of production.
• Redfern has a modern pub for people who live in the city.

Cummins said that the partnership is based on the shared values of “authenticity, community, and excellence.”

Pat Cummins and UNICEF-Fighting for Children’s Reading Skills

Pat Cummins has been a UNICEF Australia Ambassador since 2021, working for education and equality. He saw firsthand the problems that kids, especially girls, face when he visited schools in Lucknow and Hyderabad.

He said:

• “Reading opens doors to learning.” It’s the basis for a lifetime of learning.
• “Every bedtime story, every question that makes you think, and every proud recitation of the alphabet are the start of education.”

Cummins said that in some parts of India, more than half of girls drop out of school before Year 10. He was inspired to push for early learning programs in Australia because of UNICEF’s literacy programs in 190 countries.

He says that literacy is “a beacon of hope for children living in poverty or conflict.”

READ MORE : Pat Cummins All But Ruled Out of Ashes Opener — Shock Report Sparks Panic

Pat Cummins Takes Australia’s Kids to the Spelling Bee

Cummins took part in the Prime Minister’s Spelling Bee in August 2025, which set a record for the most participants: over 74,500 students, 3,000 teachers, and 1,400 schools.

He said:

• “Kids don’t even know how much they’re learning; that’s the best part.”

The winners of the Bee got to go to Canberra to meet the Prime Minister. They also got iPads, HarperCollins book packs, and $1000 school vouchers.

Katie Maskiell from UNICEF praised the project:

• “Learning to read and write gives a child curiosity, confidence, and a voice.”

Howzat Pat-Helping Young Readers and Dreamers

Howzat Pat, a series of children’s books by Cummins, Dave Hartley, and Serena Geddes, has become very popular with kids.

Some of the titles are:

• Dare to Bowl
• Mission: Wildlife Rescue
• Money Mystery (2024) is a story about kids at a cricket club raising money for solar lights. It teaches kids about money, working together, and renewable energy.
• Cummins said, “It’s one story about sports, curiosity, and caring for the world.”

He wants his kids, Albie and Edith, to love reading as much as they love playing cricket in the garden.

Creative Projects and Media Appearances

Outside of work, Cummins keeps working on creative projects.

He was in an ad for Prime Video’s Champions Trophy, where he made fun of his own sledging style in a playful way.

He will also be in the animated TV show Snick & Willow, which is about kids who love cricket and find a secret trophy room. Cricket legends like Sir Ian Botham make guest appearances on the show.

Pat Cummins talks about being a leader, being a father, and the future

Cummins has been honest about how hard it is to balance work and family:

• “I switch into dad mode when playtime is over.” It keeps me grounded and helps me be a better leader.

He said to news.com.au:

• “I’ve had a break and I’m 31, so I feel great.” I love the job, and it doesn’t look like it will ever end.

The majority of the players on Australia’s current Test team are over 30, and Cummins sees this as a strength because it shows maturity and stability that comes from years of working together.

Pat Cummins’ Future

Cummins is still waiting for his last medical scans as of October 2025. If he doesn’t play in the Perth Test, it will be the first home series he has missed since he became captain in 2021.

No matter how fit he is, his impact on Australian cricket has already gone beyond numbers. Cummins is a modern athlete who combines performance with purpose in everything he does, from how he leads to the causes he supports.

The legacy of Pat Cummins

Pat Cummins is more than just the captain of Australia; he is a role model for balance, honesty, and compassion in sports.

He has:

• Led Australia to success around the world.
• Made family-first culture normal in cricket.
• Invested in a local business that is based in the community.
• As a UNICEF ambassador, I spoke out for children’s education.
• Howzat Pat sparked interest in reading and writing.

Cummins’ story is already a part of Australia’s history, whether he lifts another Ashes urn or not. It shows that greatness isn’t just about trophies or wickets, but also about leading with heart, learning with humility, and living with purpose.

FAQ’S 

Is Pat Cummins missing three fingers?

No, Pat Cummins has all of his fingers. But he lost the tip of his right hand’s middle finger in an accident when he was a kid.

Is Pat Cummins quitting the IPL?

No, Pat Cummins is not quitting the IPL. He still plays in the league and is currently with Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Is Pat Cummins a rich man?

Yes, Pat Cummins has millions of dollars. He is thought to be worth more than $40 million AUD, which he made through cricket contracts, IPL deals, sponsorships, and investments.

Why isn’t Pat Cummins playing?

Pat Cummins is out of action right now because he hurt a bone in his lower back, and he’s focussing on getting better before he plays international cricket again.

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