Pat Cummins’ wife shares photo after couple were captured in a heated argument on Sydney street: ‘My loves’

Pat Cummins’ wife, Becky, has shared an affectionate family photo hours after images emerged of the couple in an animated exchange on a Sydney street, as Usman Khawaja’s allegations reignite the Sandpapergate saga.

News Corp published images of the couple in a heated discussion beside their car on Wednesday afternoon and reported that the exchange lasted about five minutes before they went inside a property.

Cummins was barefoot and alternated between pacing and leaning against the car, while Becky did much of the talking.

Cummins’ management declined to comment on the exchange.

In the photo shared on her Instagram Story, Becky rested her head against her husband as he held their daughter, Edith, whose face was hidden from view. She tagged Cummins and captioned the photo: ‘My loves’.

Meanwhile, the Australian cricket captain has invited reporters to question him on Friday about Usman Khawaja’s claims that the entire Australian team knew about the ball-tampering in Cape Town in 2018 and that sandpaper had also been used in the previous Test in Port Elizabeth.

‘Happy to speak with any and all media about the events of this week at 9.30am.

‘I’ve taken some time to try and better understand the long list and full extent of Uzzy’s allegations so I can respond properly.’

Khawaja’s autobiography, Sabr, released on Tuesday, alleges knowledge extended beyond Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the three players Cricket Australia sanctioned over the scandal.

Bancroft was caught using sandpaper on the ball during the third Test in Cape Town in March 2018.

Smith and Warner received 12-month bans and lost the captaincy and vice-captaincy, respectively. Bancroft received a nine-month suspension.

Khawaja’s account has placed fresh scrutiny on the bowling group, which included 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 at the weekend ahead of its release.

In a joint statement in 2021, the four bowlers said they had not known a foreign substance had been taken onto the field to alter the ball’s condition during the Cape Town Test.

Starc defended his account again on Wednesday when asked about Khawaja’s allegations concerning the preceding Test in Port Elizabeth.

‘Yeah, that’s the first I was aware of any of that taking place in PE… was when [Khawaja said it]… I’ll leave that for said authors to explain,’ Starc said.

Warner has thrown his support behind his former opening partner.

‘It’s been eight years since I’ve spoken on this topic and Uzzie, I throw my full support behind you,’ he said.

‘I thank you for what you’ve done. It’s 100 per cent accurate what you’ve said. Everyone knows the truth. It’s out there. People wanted to know it.’

Khawaja faced pointed questions about his account during an appearance on ABC’s 7.30, including whether he was angry that the bowlers had not admitted knowing about the use of sandpaper.

‘I’ll say again, I’ve given my statement about what happened the game before,’ he said.

‘I was very open and honest to what I saw and what conversations I had.

‘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.’

Pressed further about the bowlers, Khawaja declined to elaborate.

‘I’m just not going… I’m not going to entertain that,’ he said.

‘I’m not going to really speak on any more of it at this moment.’

He also acknowledged uncertainty about what the fallout could mean for his friendship with Cummins.

‘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 subsequently cancelled several media appearances, including an interview with Seven News, although he denied cancelling his book tour.

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has said there would be ‘absolutely no benefit’ in reopening the investigation.

It has also been reported that CA chairman David Boon backed Cummins and assured him his captaincy was secure.

Before the latest allegations became public, Cummins said the team had already answered questions about the scandal repeatedly.

‘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 South Africa tour.

‘It was dealt with then. All I can say is, as a group, we’ve moved on.’

Cummins also said Khawaja had given him some notice of the book’s contents.

‘He didn’t go into too much detail… As always it was “no worries, you can tell your story, that’s fine”.’