Indigenous cricket star Ash Gardner opens up after labelling Australia Day a celebration of ‘hurt’

Australian star Ash Gardner knew there would be backlash when he called out Cricket Australia for scheduling a match on Australia Day.

But the indigenous all-rounder had to admit she “underestimated” the consequences after posting a statement on social media declaring it was a “day of grief and a day of mourning” for indigenous Australians and that she would prefer not to play.

After starring for Australia in the opening T20 World Cup win over New Zealand in South Africa, Gardner spoke about the importance of consequences and how he tried to turn a negative into a positive.

Ashleigh Gardner has spoken out about the abuse she received for describing Australia Day as a celebration of “grief and mourning” last month.

“When I released that statement, I knew there was going to be a backlash,” he said.

‘I think I underestimated how much I copied. I try my best not to look at all that stuff, but I feel like it’s human nature to read comments and stuff like that.

The 25-year-old Muruwari woman, whose mother and ancestors hail from northwestern New South Wales, took to social media during the side’s series against Pakistan to share her desire to educate Australians on what the national holiday means for indigenous peoples.

Gardner was scathing about the decision to schedule one of Australia’s matches against Pakistan on January 26, the day the First Fleet arrived in Sydney in 1788 and transformed the great southern land into the multicultural country it is today.

The Australian star is a proud Muruwari woman, whose mother and ancestors hail from northwestern New South Wales and has spoken out against Australia Day.

“Reflecting on what January 26 means to me and my people, it is a day of pain and mourning,” he posted on social media.

‘My culture is something I hold close to my heart […] and I’m always so proud to speak when asked.

“Unfortunately, this year the Australian women’s cricket team was scheduled to play a match on January 26, which certainly doesn’t sit well with me as an individual, but also with everyone I represent,” he wrote in the captions. social networks. media.

“As a national team, we have a platform to raise awareness of certain issues and I am using this platform to educate others on a journey to learn about the world’s longest-lived culture.

Gardner took to Twitter last month to express his disappointment with Cricket Australia’s decision to schedule a game on Australia Day.

“When I take the field for this game, I will no doubt be reflecting and thinking about all my ancestors and the lives of the people who have changed from this day on,” Gardner wrote.

She has also become a powerful and respected advocate for First Nations peoples.

Gardner was a key driving force behind the introduction of an Indigenous Round in the WBBL in 2021, with First Nations customs such as a smoking ceremony, basket weaving and a barefoot circle now also common in the league, and the equivalent male of the BBL.

The superstar hitter and star also has her own charity, the Ashleigh Gardner Foundation, which aims to “increase the percentage of Aboriginal children completing secondary school.”

Gardner was a key driving force behind the introduction of an Indigenous Round at the WBBL and at the Big Bash, where the celebration of indigenous culture has become a regular feature.

But she didn’t back down.

“But I guess it was a moment where I stood my ground and put out that statement because that’s what I believed in,” he said.

“I just had to stay true to what I said, and I think I just tried to turn that around and turn it into something positive and it sparked conversations.”

Gardner said in the days after she questioned that she was doing the right thing by being as eloquent as she was.

Gardner had a tough day with the bat as Australia defeated New Zealand by 97 runs in their T20 Women’s World Cup opener on Saturday.

But the 25-year-old said the support from her teammates reinforced that it was better to be strong in your beliefs for the betterment of the cause.

So, I guess trying to get the confidence out of that and the support that I had from my teammates and support staff was huge because it was a dark couple of days where I was like, ‘Why did I do that?’

So, I guess trying to get the confidence out of that and the support that I had from my teammates and support staff was huge because it was a dark couple of days where I was like, “Why did I do that?”

“But knowing it was for a good cause and then trying to gain that confidence with that going into my cricket and sticking to my guns with the way I play cricket, and then how I act off the pitch as well, trying to keep quite a bit of together.

Australia will play Bangladesh in their next World Cup match on Wednesday morning.