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Aussie Test cricket captain Pat Cummins has launched a new children’s book entitled ‘Howzat Pat! Money Mystery’.
It is the third book in Cummins’ illustrated series, which sees a group of children trying to raise money to install solar lights at their local cricket ground.
The 32-year-old is currently sweating on a back injury ahead of this summer’s Ashes Series, which will begin in Perth on November 21.
Doubts have been raised over whether the New South Wales right-arm quick will be fit to play in all five Tests against England, after it was announced he had been working through a bone stress injury in his lower back.
However, as he rests up ahead of the opening crunch match against Ben Stokes’ side, the cricketer has been publicising the launch of his new book.
‘My new book, Howzat Pat: Money Mystery, is out today!’ the NSW cricket star wrote on Instagram, publishing an image of himself with a copy of the book.
Aussie Test cricket captain Pat Cummins has launched a new children’s book entitled ‘Howzat Pat! Money Mystery’. It is the third book in his series of kids novels
It comes as the 32-year-old is currently recovering from a back stress injury that has thrown doubt into his hopes of playing all five Ashes Tests
‘This is the third book in my Howzat Pat adventure series. A cool mystery all about fundraising, renewable energy and environmental care – all things I’m passionate about in real life.
‘And of course, there’s plenty of cricket action in there too.
‘Stoked to have worked with the talented Dave Hartley and Serena Geddes to bring this story to life.
‘Hope you enjoy reading it as much as we loved creating it.’
Cummins appears to have been taking a leap into multiple different creative projects over the past year, with the Aussie skipper in July revealing that he is also set to appear in a children’s animated television series, called Snick and Willow.
The show sees two cricket-loving kids find a hidden trophy room underneath their local team’s clubhouse and go on a quest to uncover cricketing artefacts. England legend Ian Botham is also said to be involved in the project.
With there being less than two months until England arrive in Australia, Cummins is racing the clock in order to be fit for the opening match.
He has enjoyed an excellent year too, despite failing to guide the Baggy Greens to glory in the World Test Championship final earlier this year.
Shold Cummins not be fit to play, Scott Boland is primed to step in and take over the captain's bowling responsibilities
Cricket legend Brett Lee (pictured) has urged Cummins not to rush his recovery back to full fitness too quickly
In red-ball cricket, Cummins has taken 20 wickets across five matches this season, notably leading his side to a huge victory against India on home soil at the beginning of the year and a series win against the West Indies in July.
Scott Boland is primed to take over from Cummins in Australia’s bowling attack, should the Aussie skipper not be fit to play.
And one former cricket great, Brett Lee, has urged Cummins not to rush back too quick, telling the 32-year-old to hold off on making a return until he is absolutely ready to play.
‘You sort of don’t want your premier fast bowler, captain of the Australian cricket team, to be missing any cricket,’ the ex-fast bowler said to news.com.au.
‘Unfortunately, when you bowl fast and when you bowl gas for the amount of time that he has, it’s taxing on the body.
‘Normally, back injuries though, they come in the early late teens, early 20s, so I’m surprised he’s got a back injury at the age that he is.
‘But the advice that I would give to Pat Cummins is he has to make sure first he gives himself every opportunity to be ready for the first Test.
‘Secondly, if he’s not quite 100 per cent, he’s better off waiting until he is 100 per cent fit because what they don’t want to do is play him in the first Test, 90 or 80 per cent fit, and he goes and injures his back again. Then he’s buggered for the whole summer.
‘That leaves a big dent in the Australian cricket team from a captaincy point of view, from a fast bowling point of view.’
Smith has taken over at points throughout 2025 and has led the side well while Cummins has spent periods this season back at home with his family, after his wife Rebecca gave birth to their second baby earlier this year.
