Cricket Captain Stands by Energy Sponsor Amid Media-Driven Climate Controversy

Pat Cummins of Australia during warm up prior to the start of game two of the T20 International Series between Australia and the West Indies at The Gabba on October 07, 2022 in Brisbane, Australia. Matt Roberts/Getty Images

Test captain Pat Cummins has denied that he raised objections to Cricket Australia’s sponsorship deal with energy company Alinta on climate grounds.

It comes after comments by Cummins, reported in the Australian media, led to the allegation that the cricket captain had spoken to Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley about terminating a $40 million, four-year contract with Alinta.

“I think the most obvious, front-of-mind things you can see is who we partner with. So I hope that when we think of who we want to align with, who we want to invite into being part of cricket, I hope climate is a real priority,” Cummins reportedly told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age on Oct. 18.

However, Cummins later told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday that the report “probably stretched exactly what happened.”

“No, not at all,” Cummins said when asked whether he has pushed for the sponsorship deal to end.

“Nick, the CEO and I, have a really good relationship; we talk about lots of things,” he said.

“But no, I’ve been a big supporter of all our partners over the last few things.”

Cummins this year held a Cricket For Climate forum in Sydney, which has led to a parallel program to have cricket clubs around Australia install solar panels.

An aerial image shows vehicles driving on the California 14 Highway as solar panels, part of an electricity generation plant, stand on June 18, 2021 in Kern County near Mojave, California. Patrick T. FALLON / AFP

Alinta Energy Warns of Spike in Electricity Bills

Alinta’s parent company, Pioneer Sail Holdings, derives revenue through the development, management, wholesale and retail sale of electricity, gas and power generation assets across Australia and New Zealand.

The company’s CEO, Jeff Dimery previously warned that electricity prices in the country could spike by more than 35 percent amid the push for net-zero.

“When we run our modelling for energy pricing next year, using the current market prices, tariffs are going up a minimum 35 percent,” he told The Australian Financial Review’s Energy and Climate Summit. “Now, maybe, the regulators are going to change the rules on that; I’m not sure.”

Dimery also said Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the transition away from fossil fuels in Australia would contribute to spiking costs.

“What cost me A$1 billion (US$630 million) to acquire is going to cost me A$8 billion to replace, so let’s talk about that and [someone] explain to me how energy prices still come down,” he said in comments obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

“I don’t get it. Am I missing something?”

Daniel Y. Teng contributed to this report.