Pat Cummins has dismissed suggestions that he and his wife, Rebecca, were involved in a domestic argument after the couple were photographed in an animated conversation outside their Sydney home, as Usman Khawaja’s autobiography reignited debate over Australia’s 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
During an extensive press conference in Sydney on Friday, the Australian captain faced a barrage of questions about the events that unfolded during the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town.
Cummins branded Khawaja’s claim that the entire Australian team knew about the plan to alter the ball as “complete and utter nonsense” and accused his former teammate of being “casual with lives and reputations”.
He was also asked about photographs published by News Corp showing him in a visibly animated exchange with Rebecca beside their car on Wednesday afternoon.
Cummins was barefoot in the images, appearing to pace before leaning against the vehicle, while Rebecca did most of the talking.
However, he laughed off the suggestion that the couple had been arguing and explained that his wife’s frustration was directed at Khawaja, rather than at him.
“It’s… very comical. Becky wears her heart on her sleeve. We weren’t having a spat. Becky was very frustrated, animated and really not happy with Usman,” he said.
“She’s always just said to be honest and tell the details and put your washing away.”
Pat Cummins has rejected claims of a marital dispute after being photographed in an animated exchange with his wife Rebecca outside their Sydney home
Cummins said his wife was angry with his former teammate, not with him, as Usman Khawaja’s allegations brought the Sandpapergate controversy back into focus
Rebecca appeared to end the speculation by posting a warm family photograph on her Instagram Story
Cummins said Rebecca had been beside him through the defining moments of his cricket career.
“I’ve been with Becky since well before that tour, so she’s seen everything. She leaves it all with me,” he said.
“So, she’s just saying, like, show your emotion because there are a lot of people here hurting.”
The Australia captain also criticised the decision to film him during what he considered a private family moment.
“It’s all a bit ridiculous, isn’t it? Like, we’re here talking about something that was dealt with eight and a half years ago [and] now I’m walking my daughter, one-year-old daughter in a nappy out the front, and I’ve got cameras chasing me and my family,” he said.
Several hours after the photographs emerged, Rebecca shared a loving family image on Instagram.
The photograph showed her resting her head on Cummins’ shoulder as he held their daughter, Edith, whose face was not visible. She tagged her husband and added the caption: “My loves”.
The Australian cricket world was thrown into fresh turmoil on Tuesday following the publication of Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr.
Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, claims awareness of the ball-tampering scandal went beyond the three players sanctioned by Cricket Australia
Cummins said he was frustrated to have been filmed during what he described as a private moment with his family
The book suggests that knowledge of the ball-tampering episode extended beyond Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the three players punished by Cricket Australia.
Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to roughen the ball during the third Test in Cape Town in March 2018.
Smith and Warner were each banned for 12 months and removed from the captaincy and vice-captaincy, while Bancroft was suspended for nine months.
Khawaja’s version of events has renewed attention on the Australian bowling group at the time, which featured Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
“It was all of us. Not the batters, not the bowlers, not the staff. All of us,” he told the Sydney Morning Herald before the book was released.
In a joint statement issued in 2021, the four bowlers said they had not known that a foreign substance had been taken onto the field to manipulate the ball during the Cape Town Test.
Khawaja was later challenged about his claims during an interview on ABC’s 7.30, including whether he was disappointed that the bowlers had not admitted to knowing about the sandpaper.
“I’ll say again, I’ve given my statement about what happened the game before. I was very open and honest to what I saw and what conversations I had,” he said.
Khawaja said he did not know how the revelations might affect his friendship with Cummins
Khawaja has cancelled several media appearances but denied abandoning his book tour
“Sometimes I’m very specific on things, and sometimes I’m a bit vague on things, and I do it on purpose because I’m trying to tell a story.”
When asked to provide more detail about the bowlers, Khawaja declined to continue.
“I’m not going to entertain that. I’m not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment,” he said.
He acknowledged that the dispute could have consequences for his relationship with Cummins, whom he considers a close friend.
“I’ve told my truth, and I’d give him my reasons,” Khawaja said.
“Pat Cummins is a good friend of mine. Mitchell Starc, a lot of these guys, players in the team, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, are all very good friends of mine. I’m not here to go on a witch hunt.”
Khawaja has since pulled out of a number of media commitments, including an interview with Seven News, although he insisted he had not withdrawn from his book tour.
Todd Greenberg, chief executive of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, said reopening the investigation would bring “absolutely no benefit”.
Reports have also indicated that Cricket Australia chairman David Boon has supported Cummins and assured him that his position as captain remains safe.
Before Khawaja’s latest claims came to light, Cummins had maintained that the team had answered questions about the controversy many times.
“It’s obviously a long time ago. All the investigations, everything was done back then. Answered every question a million times,” he said ahead of Australia’s recent tour of South Africa.
“It was dealt with then. All I can say is, as a group, we’ve moved on.”
Cummins also said Khawaja had offered him a limited warning about what the autobiography would contain.
“He didn’t go into too much detail… As always it was ‘no worries, you can tell your story, that’s fine’,” he said.