Cricket bosses make shock decision about teams playing on Australia Day
- January 26 has become a very divisive day for Aussies
- Sporting events are often lightning rods for criticism
Cricket fans across the country will not see any team in green and gold playing on Australia Day next year, but the sport’s bosses say the decision has nothing to do with previous controversies that have occurred in and around the national holiday.
The men’s singles final at the Australian Open takes place on the evening of the 26th and is always a ratings treat.
Tennis’ showpiece event is one of the main reasons why Cricket Australia has chosen to host the Big Bash Final on January 27, which is a public holiday in 2025.
Broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel Seven have backed the governing body’s decision.
“We decided that January 27 is the best date for the BBL finals this season as it would give as many fans as possible the opportunity to attend or watch one of Australian sport’s great events,” said one spokesperson for Cricket Australia. News Corp.
“We make our scheduling decisions based on the interests of the fans and do not rule out playing on any day in the future.”
In January this year, Cricket Australia vowed not to mention the words ‘Australia Day’ during the Gabba Test in Brisbane.
Day two of the second Test against the West Indies fell on the controversial holiday.
Cricket fans across the country won’t be able to watch matches on Australia Day next year – but it has nothing to do with past controversies that have unfolded in the run-up to January 26 (pictured, skipper Pat Cummins)
In January this year, Cricket Australia pledged not to mention the words ‘Australia Day’ during the Gabba Test in Brisbane (photo, off-spinner Nathan Lyon)
Pat Cummins recently confirmed that the Welcome to Country (pictured) will be performed before every Test in the upcoming series against India
Scheduling the Test over the Australia Day weekend was itself controversial in the eyes of some, with all-rounder Ash Gardner, an Indigenous woman, previously describing it as a day of “pain and mourning”.
Gardner found support from Test captain Pat Cummins and star batsman Steve Smith.
Both claimed that January 26 is not an appropriate time to celebrate the national holiday as the date is a highly controversial issue due to the landing of the First Fleet from Britain in Australia.
Smith formed his opinion after a conversation with teammate Scott Boland, who has Indigenous descent.
The attitude of the cricketers angered some sections of the public at the time, with 3AW Morning presenter Tom Elliott being scathing in his criticism of Cummins.
“He makes me angry,” Elliott said. “He sits there and pontificates and says, ‘Oh well, Australia Day is a source of pain for so many people, we have to move the date.’
“Hey Pat Cummins, you get paid millions of dollars to pay for cricket. Without the British settlement Australia there would be no cricket here.
‘So you are making money very directly from the fact that we have been colonized by Great Britain.
‘Then you sit there criticizing the whole thing. “He’s just a complete hypocrite.”
In what has been a polarizing move dating back to 2021, Cricket Australia has not mentioned the words ‘Australia Day’ in any of its marketing or promotional events.