Aussie Test cricket captain Pat Cummins opens up to Rio Ferdinand about grieving for his mum Maria
Pat Cummins has told football icon Rio Ferdinand that he is a changed man since his mother passed away.
He’s kept a low profile since Maria Cummins lost her battle with breast cancer in March, which is hard when you’re captain of the Australian cricket team.
Cummins was forced to leave his team midway through the Test series against India to stand by his stricken mother’s side in her final hours and pulled out of his $1.3 million Indian Premier League contract with the Kolkata Knight Riders.
Cummins posted this touching image with his proud mother Maria after she passed away, choosing to honor her on social media with the candid moment
Maria was a loving grandmother to Pat’s son Albie and was always a loving and present mother to Pat and his four siblings
However, an Ashes series is on the horizon and Cummins has a duty to his country as well as to himself.
So the Aussie Test skipper has emerged from his private mourning once again, hoping he can use the pain that haunts him daily to help others.
It’s not just his mother’s death that has changed Cummins, it’s the arrival of his first child Albie, who is now 18 months old, and the responsibilities of parenting.
Cummins has always wanted to make a difference in his life by tackling climate change and helping cricket clubs convert their operations to solar energy.
Now he feels obligated to make that difference for the inevitable day when his son asks him what he’s done with his life.
So Cummins picked itself up and signed up as an ambassador for a new social media platform WeAre8a platform that focuses on creating real environmental differences around the world.
As part of his duties, Cummins was asked to do an interview with Premier League great Rio Ferdinand, who lost his mother six years ago.
Cummins was able to smile in a rare public appearance for his interview with Premier League great Rio Ferdinand
However, the smile quickly disappeared and the pain Cummins carries with him surfaced when the conversation turned to his mother’s death.
Cummins has always been a family man, pictured here in happier days with his mother Maria and sisters Laura and Kara
Cummins grew up as a country boy on a farm with Peter and Maria Cummins and his siblings Laura, Kara, Tim and Matt
The interview started like most others, general banter, big smiles, warm conversations.
But when Ferdinand asked about Maria, there was a noticeable change in Cummins, as his lower lip twitched a little and his eyes glazed over.
‘I talk to a lot of people […] people who have similar stories,” he says softly.
“I know they talk about how they handled it and how they went through it, which helped me rationalize it somewhat.
“If I can help other people get started by talking about it, I possibly will.
“I’ve been really bad in the past, some friends have been through some things and just don’t know what’s going on and aren’t there to talk about it.
“Going through it makes me realize how hard it is and sadly how common it can be.”
“It’s something I’ll continue to work on and hopefully help others.”
Cummins has relied heavily on family to help with his recovery.
Cummins returned home from the Test tour of India to be at his mother’s side in her final days, but will return to the squad for the upcoming Ashes tour of England
The skipper has always taken the time to give back to young cricket fans, but he’s had to work on himself over the past two months
Cummins has realized how precious life is, after the passing of his mother and also the birth of his first child Albie with wife Becky (pictured together)
Spending time with his brothers Tim and Matt, sisters Kara and Laura and father Peter was a cathartic time sharing stories and remembering all the good times they had with Maria.
“It’s still pretty raw at the moment, but over the past few months I’ve been lucky enough to spend a lot of time with mom and us kids and dad and just sharing all those memories,” Cummins said.
“I think it really touches on the kind of person you want to be, the kind of father you want to be.
“It’s been pretty good on that side, a lot of memories, but as far as the sadness goes, I think you keep working through that.”
During his sabbatical from cricket, Cummins had to find ways to re-energize in order to prepare to take on the old foe in The Ashes.
So he drew on the past and revealed that there was a period in his career where he felt broken and lost to the sport.
“I played non-stop for a year or two, this is about four or five years ago when I just came back from injury,” he said.
“I was just exhausted, burnt out.
“I remember thinking, ‘Jeez, I’m 25, if I’m going to do this until I’m 35, I’ve got to find a way to balance all these different things.’
“So I got out, spent time with family and friends, went to the farm, got coffee on the beach.
‘I did a university education, the things I find give me energy. So when I start playing cricket, I can switch gears a bit more.’
Cummins recreated that period of his life this year to aid in his recovery.
Spending time on his ‘sham farm’ with wife Becky and their son, enjoying simple pleasures like coffee by the beach in Sydney and opening himself up to spend time with family and friends.
‘In recent years you just try to embrace every day.
Cummins and his wife Becky bought a farm in New South Wales where they enjoy spending time with baby Albie
Becky and Albie are regularly around the Australian cricket team to be alongside Pat
Cummins wants to spend as much time as possible with his son and has enjoyed his time away from cricket to be able to do so
“It changes every day and you don’t want to miss a minute.
“So I’m really precious with my time right now.
“I always kind of have to remind myself that there won’t be a day forever where I won’t miss all the weddings or you know Christmas and all.
“I love my job, so it’s not ideal, but it’s part of it. It’s important to love your job and love what you do.”