Heartwarming scenes as Barmy Army fans pay ‘heartbreaking’ musical tribute to Pat Cummins’ mother… after the Aussie captain flew home to stay with her as she underwent hospice care
English cricket fans made a moving gesture for Australian captain Pat Cummins and his terminally ill mother.
The Barmy Army, the traveling fan base of the English cricket team, is currently in New Zealand for the test series between the two nations.
Cummins, meanwhile, returned home from the test series against India to be with his sick mother, who is in hospice care.
‘I have decided not to return to India at this time as my mother is ill and in palliative care. I feel like I’m better off here with my family,’ he said.
‘I am grateful for the overwhelming support I have received from Cricket Australia and my teammates. Thank you for your understanding.’
Pat Cummins pictured with his mother Maria and sisters Laura and Kara
Cummins’ mother’s name is Maria and the Barmy Army trumpeter played the song Maria from the West Side story during the test match between England and New Zealand.
Some of the song lyrics for Maria include: ‘The most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard, Maria, Maria, Maria, Maria, all the beautiful sounds in the world in one word’
Cummins himself shared the video and thanked his English fans for their support.
‘This is amazing Barmy Army, thank you. Mum loved watching this and was so touched,” he posted.
The gesture captured the hearts of cricket fans across the world, including an Indian cricket supporter who reminded the sporting public of the $50,000 donation the Australian captain made to Covid relief in India.
‘What a tribute from the true gentleman of the Barmy army; prayers and respect for you Pat; you are a great sportsman who sums up all that is good in humanity; who can forget his Covid gesture to affected Indians’, they posted.
An English fan plays Maria from West Side Story on trumpet in support of Pat Cummins and his mother at The Basin in New Zealand
India’s Rohit Sharma offers some consolation to Australian captain Pat Cummins after day three of the second test match
One England fan said the gesture reminded them that, at the end of the day, it’s just a sport.
‘Proud to be English when I see this! Yes, we have pranks on the field, but when the enemy is having a hard time personally, the Barmy Army supports the player through him,’ he posted.
Sadly, many Australian fans are far from supportive of Cummins, with most comments unfit for publication.
‘More respect for him than most Aussies are showing,’ posted one English cricket fan.
‘Incredible. Too bad he isn’t getting the same support from much of the Australian public,” added another.
‘I totally agree with you. It’s disgusting what’s being said,” replied another fan.
The horrific messages from the Australian fans were criticized by longtime broadcaster Glenn Mitchell.
‘Twitter can be a cesspool. I don’t believe some of the comments made about Pat Cummins’ decision to stay home to support his mother who is in hospice care,” he said.
‘For those who are doing this, hold up a mirror to yourself and ask what you would do in a similar situation. And then, shut up.