Pat Cummins has revealed the awkward second he was added right into a WhatsApp group named ‘The Legends’ by the then Prime Minister Scott Morrison after turning into Australian Take a look at captain in late 2021.
As proven within the upcoming second season of cricket documentary The Take a look at, the quick bowler noticed the notification whereas within the automobile with teammate Mitchell Starc.
Cummins quickly found then coach Justin Langer was additionally within the group with Morrison – however the identify had prompted some concern.
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He was already in a WhatsApp group referred to as ‘The Legends’ with Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
“We had been within the automobile driving residence from coaching and the bowlers have a WhatsApp group referred to as ‘The Legends’, which we named ourselves,” Cummins informed The Age.
“Then I obtained added to ‘The Legends’ group, which was one other one, by Scott Morrison, then prime minister.
“And I bear in mind having fun with the boys pondering I would higher not ship the improper factor to the improper group.
“I did as soon as.” I believe it was a stat or a photograph or a meme or one thing that got here up and I despatched it to the improper group and I shortly needed to delete it. Sorry PM.”
Cummins was not the primary skipper to characteristic in a gaggle with Morrison and Langer, who has beforehand been floated as a possible Liberal Get together candidate in Western Australia.
Cummins stated Tim Paine had his personal three-man chat with the prime minister and coach previous to standing down forward of the 2021-22 Ashes summer time over his sexting scandal.
Morrison’s group proved extra lively than Cummins anticipated despite the previous’s position main the nation.
“It was busy as properly, daily’s play there was a ‘good luck, go get ’em at the moment’,” the cricketer stated.
Morrison concerned himself in Australian cricket on a number of events throughout his tenure as prime minister.
He attended a coaching session when bushfires had been raging in November 2019 and shared a photograph of himself with Steve Smith, saying cricket may supply aid to individuals affected by the catastrophe.
Morrison criticized Cricket Australia in 2019 for its transgender policy and once more in 2021 when the governing body axed Australia Day from official promotions.
Indigenous cricketer Dan Christian, who had beforehand met Morrison earlier than a Prime Minister’s XI match, hit out on the prime minister, whereas Australian ladies’s cricketer Megan Schutt stated his response was “embarrassing, insensitive and divisive”.
Wallabies nice turned politician David Pocock additionally accused Morrison of double standards for telling Cricket Australia to ‘persist with cricket’.
“Should you’re a younger or aspiring athlete: right here in Australia we hear a number of speak – usually from our Prime Ministers – that sport and politics should not combine,” Pocock wrote.
“That is simply not true and politicians understand it – that is why they use sport for their very own political agenda. Australia even makes use of it for diplomacy.
“Politics is about our shared life collectively, about who we’re and who we wish to be.”
In the meantime, Paine revealed in October 2021 – weeks earlier than his Take a look at profession was over – that Morrison contacted him to discuss England’s concerns about touring Australia that summer time.
“I’ve had slightly little bit of contact with (Scott Morrison) however I’ve over my interval as Take a look at captain,” Paine stated.
“He at all times touches base to see the way it’s going. He was eager to search out out what the sticking factors might need been from a gamers’ perspective.”
