Pat Cummins and his wife Becky rub shoulders with VIPs and Kate Middleton’s parents in the Royal Box at Wimbledon to overcome World Cup disappointment

• Cummins and his wife, Becky Boston, had the best seats in the venue.
• Australia captain on holiday after T20 World Cup disappointment

Being a World Cricket Test captain or 50-over champion comes with perks, such as an invitation to the Royal Box at Wimbledon.

So while India brought home to thousands of spectators on the streets of Mumbai the T20 World Cup, the only trophy Cummins’ team has eluded, Pat Cummins got to watch tennis on the legendary Centre Court as they overcame Australia’s early elimination in the Caribbean.

While most of his compatriots, led by Alex de Minaur, were toiling away on the outdoor courts, Cummins was at SW19 in London, where three champions – Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek and Andy Murray – made up the main show court line-up.

Pat’s wife Becky, whom he married in 2022, was also there next to the Australian captain.

As the name suggests, the boxes often house members of the royal family, particularly the Princess of Wales, who is patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Kate was unable to attend the ceremony with Cummins and Boston due to her ongoing cancer diagnosis, but her parents, Michael and Carol, made the special appearance.

The news follows her joyous appearance at Royal Ascot last month, where she attended a lavish ceremony with other members of the royal family, including her son-in-law, Prince William.

Also in the box on day four were TV adventurer Bear Grylls and his wife Sharra, as well as Olympic legend, architect of the London 2012 Games and former British Member of Parliament Sebastian Coe.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, it was a bad day for British tennis with the man who destroyed so many British sporting dreams at home.

At the last Wimbledon, Murray and his brother Andy faced off against the Australian pair of John Peers and Linky Hijikata, and despite loud crowd cheers for the Murray brothers, the Australians won the Ashes tennis match in straight sets.

Djokovic also played British qualifier Jacob Fearnley and beat him in four sets.

Cummins’ appearance in a suit, boots and sunglasses drew a lot of praise on social media, with some suggesting he should be the next James Bond.

Perhaps it was something he should have discussed with survivalist Bear Grylls, who was also in the box, and Seb Coe, the former British Olympic middle-distance champion and now president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), who was sitting in the front row.