By trying to offend nobody Cricket Australia has an Australia Day nightmare of their own creation

Australian cricket tries to offend no-one on Australia Day - the problem is that has the potential to leave no-one totally happy and it’s a problem that isn’t going away any time soon writes Robert Craddock.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 30: Scott Boland of the PM's XI is pictured with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before day one of the tour match between Prime Minister's XI and India at Manuka Oval on November 30, 2024 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)

Part-cautious, part-proud, part-fearful, Australian cricket finds Australia Day the nightmare challenge it cannot solve.

The problem is by trying to offend no-one cricket bosses never truly please anyone either.

For the first time in 31 years Australia will not play professional cricket on Australia Day because it does not want its Big Bash final between the Hurricanes and the Thunder to run up against the Australian Open tennis final.

That’s fair enough. It’s a pragmatic, non-political stance actually suggested by the television broadcasters but so sensitive is this issue that when this masthead reported this move reader feedback included hysterical comments like “you woke p------.‘

Scott Boland at Uluru in 2023. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

Wokeness had nothing to do with it but the Australia Day argument is so emotional that facts and fervor often get in each other’s road.

Cricket Australia has confirmed its intention to play on Australia Day in future years but in recent times has not celebrated the day, refusing to mention the words Australia Day in marketing for cricket played on January 26 over the past four years.

This is a bit like having a barbecue but banning sausages.

The tightrope walk came to a head last year when the Gabba ground announcer for the West Indies Test played on Australia Day was initially going to be told not to mention the words “Australia Day’’ when he welcomed fans to the ground before public uproar forced a change of heart.

Cricket Australia has held the line that Australia Day meant different things to different people and it played on that day in honor of people who wanted them to but preferred not to mention Australia Day in sympathy with those who consider it “Invasion Day’’ due to the landing of the First Fleet.

Australian First Nations star Ash Gardner has stated her belief that it is not appropriate for Australia to be playing on January 26. Picture: Jeremy Ng - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images

That is a very delicate balancing act which, by trying to keep everyone happy, has the potential to do the opposite.

Australia has always felt bad about its horrendous record of having just two male aboriginal Test cricketers – Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland.

Gillespie has been a long-time advocate of changing the date of Australia Day and his captain Pat Cummins agrees. Indigenous women’s star Ash Gardner went a step further by saying she felt it was not appropriate for Australia to be playing on that day.

But they will be next summer. And beyond that.

Round and round it goes, where it stops nobody knows with the only certainty being there is no certainty. And there’s more controversy ahead.

Originally published as By trying to offend nobody Cricket Australia has an Australia Day nightmare of their own creation