Pat Cummins opens up on the joy of becoming a father for the second time after the January arrival of daughter Edith

Pat Cummins has opened up on the joy of becoming a dad for the second time and his and English wife Becky’s plans to take their growing family on the road this cricket winter.

Pat Cummins has opened up for the first time on the joys of becoming a father to a daughter and his plans to take his growing family on the road this year.

Cummins is absent from Australia’s Champions Trophy campaign which launches on Saturday night in Pakistan as he continues to rehabilitate a niggling ankle injury and spend quality time with three-week old daughter, Edith.

The Australian captain was forced to fly to Dubai 48 hours after wife Becky gave birth to first son Albie in late 2021, and relished the chance to be there for the precious first few weeks for Edith, who has swept the fast bowler off his feet.

Pat Cummins with his son and wife Becky before the birth of Edith. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“I feel so grown up putting the kids to sleep and realising you’ve got kids,” Cummins said as an ambassador for Prime Video, promoting the streaming service’s live and exclusive coverage of the Champions Trophy.

“But it’s amazing.

“We didn’t know what we were having. So to have a girl, somehow we were surprised.

“It’s meant to be 50-50 but we were still amazed.

“I just feel really lucky to have a healthy family.

“Edi is three weeks old now. She’s going strong. Becky is doing amazing. I feel lucky that I’ve been home for this little stint and been in that little bubble. It’s all going strong.”

Cummins won’t be on the field for Australia, but he will host a Prime Video watch party of the opening clash against arch rivals England at Mountain Culture in Redfern on Saturday night.

Fans can register their attendance on Prime Video’s Instagram page for a rare chance to watch Australia with the Australian captain.

Cummins is on track to return from an ankle injury in next month’s Indian Premier League competition and is hoping to take his family with him, at least for June’s World Test Championship Final against South Africa to be played at Lord’s in England.

“Becky being from England, a lot of her family is over in England. The World Test Championship the plan is for them to come over and spend a bit of time with our English family and do a bit of travel,” Cummins said.

Pat Cummins at Mountain Culture Brewery in Redfern launches Amazons Champions cricket trophy Picture Thomas Lisson

“Maybe even (take the family to) India. We are tossing that up as well.”

Cummins is yet to bowl a ball since the Sydney Test match but is about to return to bowling, after giving a grumbly ankle joint injury the rest it needed after his marathon effort across five Tests against India in the summer.

It’s rare for a cricketer to get so long at home with family and Cummins has savoured every minute.

“It’s been great. I think even when you’re home you’ve always got an eye to the next tour and as a fast bowler you’re normally always bowling and doing gym and all those kind of things,” Cummins said.

“Whereas I’ve had a real break and haven’t had to think too much about cricket.

“I feel really refreshed and again, feel really lucky being able to have this family time.”

Cummins said he’s noticed differences with his experiences as a new parent second time around.

“I feel a bit more relaxed. With Albie I think every first parent that I speak to, they fall asleep and you’re still staring at them (anxious to make sure) that they’re not going to stop breathing,” Cummins said.

“Whereas Edi is a bit, ‘leave her there, you know she’s not going to move.’

“Albie has got a few toys out of it so he’s pretty chuffed with that. A few toy cars. He’s great. I think he knows what’s going on.”

Originally published as Pat Cummins opens up on the joy of becoming a father for the second time after the January arrival of daughter Edith