'This is the book mum read to him' - Pat Cummins picks son Albie's favourite book as his most 'sentimental' item

Pat Cummins has opened up about his mother's death, sharing a heart-touching story about how his 18-month-old son Albie was able to spend time with her before she died in March. Cummins returned home midway through Australia’s tour of India to be with his mother, who was suffering from prolonged breast cancer.

Following Cummins' absence, Steve Smith led Australia in the last two Tests against India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in early 2023. The 30-year-old did not return to India for the three-match One-Day International (ODI) series either, as he, unfortunately, lost his mother.

During an interview with former England soccer great Rio Ferdinand for the WeAre8 social media site, Cummins was asked to add something sentimental. He stated that he was not a sentimental guy, so he had to consider what items in the house were essential to him. He then chose a cardboard children’s book and narrated a story. He said that his child loved the book named 'Birds', which his mother read to his son before she passed away, and it was thus special for him.

“I’m not a very sentimental person so I had to think what in the house was important to me.

I brought a kids book. My son Albie is 18 months old. It’s his favourite kids book. It’s called Birds, and it’s from England, so hopefully you’ll recognize a few. He absolutely loves this book. He grabs it from the bookshelf.

Just before mum passed away, this is the book mum read to him the last time he saw her, so it’s really special for me. My wife [Beckie] bought it so there’s a huge connection that brings us all together," Cummins said.

It hits home, the kind of person you want to be: Cummins

Cummins went on to say that he was still in a state of shock. He also expressed gratitude for the opportunity to spend so much time with his mother, children, and father in the last few months. He also claimed that it is always the home that shapes one into the person they want to be.

“I’m part of a big family, I’m one of five kids. It’s still pretty raw at the moment, but during the last few months I’ve been able to luckily enough spend loads of time with mum and us kids and Dad, just sharing all those memories.

It hits home, really hits home, the kind of person you want to be, the kind of father you want to be. From that side. But in terms of the grief, I’ll keep working through that, speaking to others," he added.