Pat Cummins might miss Sri Lanka Test series due to family commitments

Fresh reports suggest that Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins may miss part or all of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka next year. The reason? Cummins and his wife, Becky Boston, are expecting the birth of their second child around the same time as the series. 

In a recent conversation with the Sydney Morning Herald, Cummins shared his thoughts on the situation, saying, "Yeah, it’s definitely a factor. We haven’t worked out exactly what that looks like – it’s pretty hard to plan the exact day, but definitely.”

The Australian skipper, who led his team to victory in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, expressed his desire to spend more time with his family this time around. When his son, Albie, was born in October 2021, Cummins had to leave for the T20 World Cup just four days later due to biosecurity rules, something he regrets. 

“I missed a big chunk of 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,” Cummins added.

Cummins also praised Cricket Australia for being understanding when it comes to family matters, saying, “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.”

While the exact schedule for the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka has yet to be announced, the series is important for Australia as they aim to qualify for the final of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle. However, Cummins' family commitments may see him miss a key part of this series.