Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins hits back at critics while visiting indigenous communities

Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has a strong message for those who continue to criticize his humanitarian work: educate yourself.

With Ashes beginning on June 16, the 30-year-old is desperate to hoist the urn in England, but his passion when not wearing his white clothes is the definition of noble.

Cummins recently spent time at Borroloola in the Northern Territory, and while the experience would have been confronting for many, the man who has caught 214 Test wickets was in his element.

The remote indigenous community faces many challenges: unemployment stands at 50% and 66% of its children are classified as vulnerable.

UNICEF, famous for protecting children in disaster zones around the world, has set up Australian operations in Borroloola and indigenous footballer John Moriarty has also set up his own foundation.

Cummins recently spent time in Borroloola in the Northern Territory, where life is very different compared to the capital city.

Locally managed Indi Kindi continues to thrive, but other obstacles remain, notably the geographic isolation of Borroloola.

It’s a two and a half hour plane flight or a 12 hour drive from Darwin or a 14 hour drive from Alice Springs, making life’s necessities hard to come by.

Thanks to the UNICEF program and Moriarty’s Indi Kindi, which has been running since 2012, local children have daily access to hot meals and basic medical care.

But as Cummins now knows all too well, much more can be done.

Sport is a clear passion for young people, and it can also open doors to life in the ‘big smoke’.

A proud Borroloola girl, Shadeene Evans has played in the W-League with Sydney FC and Adelaide United in recent years.

Cummins ultimately felt it was his duty as a fellow Australian to help out in the Northern Territory.

“That’s why programs like this and the incredible work that UNICEF and the Moriarty Foundation are doing are so important,” he said. news corporation

He also supports a ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice in Parliament, and will continue to speak his mind on non-cricket issues, despite his detractors.

Cummins will soon fly to England ahead of first cinder test on June 16 at Edgbaston

“I think some things are too important to worry about how people feel,” he said.

‘Being in a position where I can help, well, that’s a lot more important than getting the occasional bit of criticism from people who don’t want to help.

There’s so much good that different people and organizations and great stories are doing within that, that if I can help, and if people have a problem, well, who cares, really?

In October last year, Cummins came under fire for his hypocritical “ethical objections” from Cricket Australia’s main sponsor, Alinta Energy.

He reportedly reached out to CEO Nick Hockley and raised personal concerns about Alinta Energy’s climate impact ahead of his contract renewal.

Cummins’ conduct clearly upset some cricket supporters as the passionate climate activist has featured in several previous Alinta adverts.

He has also been seen flying first class and driving a Range Rover SUV, both known chronic emitters of pollution.

The first Ashes Test against England is at Edgbaston on June 16.