Australian players wore black armbands to pay tribute to Maria, mother of regular captain Pat Cummins, who died in Sydney on the second day of the fourth and final Test against India on Friday.
Maria was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She was suffering from this serious illness for the last few weeks which resurfaced sometime back.
He died at his residence on Thursday night. The Australian players received the sad news from their coach Andrew McDonald before the start of play on the second day of the final Test here.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Maria Cummins,” Cricket Australia said in a statement on Friday. “On behalf of Cricket Australia, we extend our condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends,” he added. “The Australian men’s team will play today wearing black armbands as a mark of respect,” the statement said.
Cummins, who led Australia in the first two Tests of the current four-Test tour of India, had returned to Sydney due to his mother’s health deteriorating. In his absence, Steve Smith captained Australia in the Indore Test and the visiting team won the Test by nine wickets.
