Pat Cummins’ greatest honour — being named Test captain of Australia — had a devastating impact on his wife, Becky.

In a new book, Tested, Pat and Becky have have detailed a highly emotional time in 2021 when Becky had just given birth to Albie (their first child), and Pat had to leave for the T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates.

“We arrived home from the hospital on the day you left and I remember walking in on you sobbing on the floor while you were packing your bags,” Becky said in Tested.

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“All I could think of was: ‘Why is he so emotional? We are going to be fine. It’s not a big deal’.”

Then, a few weeks later, Becky arrived in Brisbane in November for the start of the Ashes series.

“We had two blissful days together before Pat was made Test captain,” she said.

But that news rocked her.

“It was an amazing thing to happen, and so deserved, but it also felt like my world had just crumbled,” she said.

“I had no control over anything. This baby was supposed to be the most important thing in our life, and I all I wanted was for us to be together to enjoy him. (Your) new role was all anybody was talking about.

“I was so proud but also felt a bit hollow.

“You stepped up to the task and were absolutely amazing. I knew you were the best man for the job and this was your time to shine, but what absolutely sh*t timing.

“I often thought how selfish it was for me to be thinking like that.

“I was only a few weeks post partum and physically and mentally exhausted, but I will never forget the moment I realised that I just had to go home and do it alone.

“I had to, because if Albie and I stayed with him, it would break his heart and also his concentration.

“He couldn’t be captain and a young father in that moment and I felt the best thing to do was let him captain.”

Pat and Becky have been with each other for 10 years after Becky made a trip to Sydney from the UK.

And Pat says he is in awe of his wife and her ability to instinctively make the right the decisions.

He called the birth of Albie and the Test captaincy two of his “biggest life moments” and said they were running parallel to each other.

But he said Becky was “amazing” as she looked after Albie while allowing him to chase his dream and captain Australia.

“I recognise now that it’s only Becky’s love, strength and sacrifice that I can continue touring, playing and succeeding as I have been,” Cummins wrote in Tested.

“(My) goals beyond cricket are intertwined with my life with Becky, and I credit her for the idea that I have to be the same man on the field, at home, at the pub and in the media.”

Cummins said playing cricket all year round, year after year, had its challenges when children were on the scene.

He said he was better now at putting a day’s play to one side and then going straight into dad and family mode.

“It makes me a better cricketer and captain as well, I’m less worried about some of the ups and downs within cricket,” he said.

Becky said life on tour was overrated.

“At first I enjoyed the novelty of travelling, staying in beautiful hotels and taking time off work,” she said.

“Who wouldn’t? It all sounds perfect on paper and don’t get me wrong, we live the most amazing life.

“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised what’s really important in life and that’s not staying in hotels, no matter how nice they are. I am at my happiest when I’m at home surrounded by family, doing the things we mostly take for granted.

“Living life away from home can be extremely lonely.

“When I am home things can be tough too because, for about ten months of the year I am alone, and the person I most want to spend my days with is away.

“It’s a life no one really fully understands, not even our extended families.”