Pat Cummins goes against Aussie tradition as baggy green detail comes to light
Pat Cummins has gone against the grain and opted to sport a brand new baggy green for the Test series against the West Indies after a special request was granted for the Aussie captain. The baggy green is arguably the most recognisable and prestigious piece of clothing in Australian sport and players often wear the cap until it is in tatters.
The likes of Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Ricky Ponting and David Warner all wore their iconic hat until it was falling apart. Waugh's captaincy changed the perception of what the baggy green stood for in cricketing culture and it became a treasured item in the Aussie sporting landscape.
While some do get their cap repaired after years of wear, most players insist on keeping the same item throughout their entire career. Steve Smith recently had the front of his treasured cap fixed after it frayed on the brim having worn it for 16 years.
However, Cummins has gone for an alternative approach and opted to replace his tattered baggy green with a new one after 68 Test matches. In the World Test Championship final, fans noticed the Aussie captain's cap was falling apart.
He even opted to wear a hat in his post-match press conference. And ahead of the West Indies series, Cummins has been delivered a new cap albeit it with a twist. Cummins wasn't happy with the way his old baggy green was repaired and opted to get Albion to replace his cap, according to reporter Bharat Sundaresan in Barbados.
While this is an alternative approach, Cummins' request for Albion to make the cap is big considering Kookaburra have taken over the manufacturing of the iconic piece. Cummins was initially presented his Albion Baggy green on his debut in 2011 against South Africa.
Kookaburra took over the contract to make the item in 2016, which meant Cummins was going to have a different manufacturer and a slightly lighter shade of green. Instead, Cummins made sure Albion made his new item and it could be the very last one they do considering it was a request from the captain.
"He asked for a new one, but insisted it was an Albion," Sundaresan said on The Final Word podcast. "There is always so many stories for every cricketer who's been fortunate to have got the baggy green."
Cummins will wear his new baggy green for the first time on Wednesday when he leads Australia out against the West Indies. The new baggy green will also go along with a fresh starting XI for Australia after going down to South Africa in the WTC final this month.
Pat's wearing a brand new baggy green with his old one quite knackered. Of interest to kit badgers: he's very pleased that it is one of the last (possibly the last) Albion. #WIvAUS pic.twitter.com/zMHElJEbXZ
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) June 24, 2025
"Every Baggy Green tells a story" Pat Cummins got a new one but made sure it was the classic ALBION brand!#WIvsAUS @YouCanCountOnMB pic.twitter.com/TQZZ0TCp75
— The Final Word (@Final_Word_Pod) June 24, 2025
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Speaking ahead of the first ball against the West Indies in Barbados, Cummins revealed the leadership see Cameron Green as their long-term No.3 option. Green was reinstated for the WTC final at No.3, but failed to get into double figures in either innings. However, the captain feels the side is looking to give Green an extended run to show his talent. "We see that (No.3) as a long-term option," Cummins said.
"Going in to last week, he's hitting the ball really well. He's moving really well. He had a Test match where it obviously didn't go to plan. The message is not to look too much into that. We're really happy with where his game is placed. I dare say he'll get a decent run at No.3."
This comes as Marnus Labuschagne was dropped from the side, which has seen Sam Konstas and Josh Inglis move into the XI. "If there's an opening, we could see him kind of fighting his way back into the Test team at some point, but obviously the focus now is giving a couple of other guys a go," Cummins said in a blow to Labuschagne.
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