Australian cricketer Hilton Cartwright made a brave and touching decision on Monday, giving up an injury suffered during a Sheffield Shield match to attend the birth of his second child.

The Western Australia all-rounder was scoring 52 when he received the exciting news during the tea break in the match against Tasmania at the WACA Stadium in Perth.

Family is more important than cricket

Without hesitation, Cartwright decided to prioritize family over cricket, leaving the field and rushing to hospital to be with his partner during the birth of his child.

This selfless decision exemplifies the balance that many professional athletes strive to maintain between their athletic careers and their personal lives. Although Cartwright played a key role in the match, the opportunity to witness the birth of his child took precedence.

The batter may resume pitching if allowed.

Although he retired due to injury, Cartwright could potentially resume his innings on day three, pending approval from match officials and Team Tasmania. His return will give Western Australia a boost as they continue to battle in this tight match.

In Cartwright’s absence, wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly joined the team. Inglis remained unbeaten on 72 while Connolly provided solid support with 42 not out. The duo stabilized Western Australia’s innings, helping them to 219 for 4 at stumps, moving closer to Tasmania’s first innings score of 277.

Cartwright’s decision to leave for such a special, personal moment added a touching human element to the game, showing that sometimes, even in professional sports, family comes first.