Nick Hoult

November 9, 2026 — 10:03am

Pat Cummins is no stranger to wading into public debates. He has been the most vocal current cricketer to join public appeals for humanitarian treatment of Imran Khan.

He has spoken about climate change, co-founding the Cricket for Climate action group and did not take part in sponsorship appearances for Cricket Australia backer Alinta Energy. He has supported changing the date of Australia Day in support of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; political opinions and interventions that have copped him a lot of criticism in a country where its athletes are expected to stay in their lanes.

Usman Khawaja (right) in his playing days with Australian fast bowlers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, who all played in the infamous Cape Town Test of 2018. Getty Images

On the field, he has been a magnificent leader for Australia.…