Australian Players Wear Black Armbands in Honour of Pat Cummins' Mother
Cummins flew back to Australia after Delhi Test [Source: AP Photo]
The Australian cricket team decided to wear black armbands on Day 2 of the ongoing fourth and final Test against India in Ahmedabad to pay their respects to Pat Cummins' mother, who passed away early Friday morning due to prolonged illness.
Head coach Andrew McDonald spoke to the players about Cummins' loss just ahead of the start of play. Cummins returned home after the Delhi Test to take care of his ailing mother, who was in palliative care after suffering from Breast Cancer.
Cricket Australia, in their statement, extended their condolences to Cummins and his family.
Here's what CA said
"We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight," read a Cricket Australia statement. 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."
In the absence of Cummins, Steve Smith has taken over the captaincy role and has so far led Australia perfectly.
Smith won the third Test in Indore by an impressive nine-wicket margin to make a comeback in the series, after Australia conceded the Nagpur and Delhi Tests, respectively.
As of writing, Australia are 295 for 4 with Day 2 underway in the Ahmedabad Test. Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green are batting on 128* and 65*, adding 125 runs for the fifth wicket.
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