Pat Cummins says he was never mentally present during last year’s Test tour of India, describing it as the “most difficult time of his life” as he dealt with the loss of his mother’s health.
The challenging episode encouraged him to take a more holistic approach to leadership, encouraging players to live full lives on tour.
Cummins traveled to India in February 2023 and stayed alone for two tests before rushing home to be at his mother Maria’s side while she received palliative care.
He didn’t return to the team until after she died in May.
The Test captain spoke about his experiences on The Imperfects, a podcast in which famous Australians reflect on difficult times in their lives that are not always in the public eye.
Pat Cummins has opened up about his turmoil last year following a family tragedy.
Cummins lost his mother, Maria (left), while on tour with Australia in India.
“When I got on that plane (for the India tour) I knew I was going to have to come back in a couple of weeks,” he said.
“Maybe only a handful of people knew that was going to be the case.”
As is the case with any Australian captain, on any tour, but particularly in India, Cummins came under intense scrutiny as his team fell to a 2-0 series deficit, keeping the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at bay. Indian hands
Cummins took only three wickets in two Tests.
The 30-year-old said that although he was traveling with the best wishes of his parents, he did not feel present.
‘During those couple of weeks I was in India, especially now that I think about it, my mind was not in India. It was at home all the time,” she said.
‘Flying away… that’s the hardest moment of my life, easily.
“I probably felt like, in the previous 12 months, every time I flew away, I thought, ‘time is finite here.’ I’m making a deliberate decision to go play somewhere instead of spending it at home.”
Cummins said both COVID-19, when traveling athletes were confined to hotel rooms to maintain their sporting commitments, and the loss of Maria changed his approach to captaincy.
“If we’re going to be away from our families, let’s make sure we have the time of our lives,” he said.
“He plays great cricket, but… pack your golf clubs, bring your coffee machine, if we’re in London, go explore, go see a show.”
‘We’re trying to create as much space in the diary for people to live their lives.
‘It’s definitely a lesson learned from mom. I do not wanna lose my time.’
Father of one says his mother’s death changed his approach to captaincy
Cummins was true to his mantra during the first Test against England last June, attending a two-and-a-half-hour Bruce Springsteen show after the first day with his father.
“Bruce Springsteen was basically the eighth member of the family,” Cummins said of his father’s love for the American.
“We played all day and then got in a taxi and dragged ourselves to Aston Villa (his home ground, Villa Park) and saw Bruce Springsteen, so he had an amazing week, dad.”
That approach has been on display this fortnight in New Zealand, when players have shown as much appetite for the contest as they have for their golf activities on their days off.
It certainly hasn’t affected the results.
Australia won the World Test Championship, retained The Ashes, won the ODI World Cup last year and won five of six Tests with Pakistan, the West Indies and New Zealand this summer.
Their final test before a long break begins on Friday in Christchurch against the Black Caps.