‘More appropriate date’: Pat Cummins joins push to shift Australia Day

Australia captain Pat Cummins has added his voice to the campaign to change the date Australia Day is celebrated, calling for a “more appropriate” date.

Pat Cummins’ plea to change the date of Australia Day is set to embolden cricket bosses to defy public outrage and double down on the low key treatment of the day.

While engaged in different parts of the argument, Test captain Cummins support for a date change proved he and employers are roughly on the same page when it comes to the Australia Day debate.

This is set to ensure that – despite significant public outrage – Cricket Australia maintains the low key treatment of the day which has been their policy in recent years.

Cummins wants the date changed and CA has decided not to mention Australia Day in promotions for the day or even over the loudspeaker in a scripted address on the day itself at Australia-West Indies Test at the Gabba on Friday.

Scott Boland has influenced Pat Cummins’ opinion of the Australia Day date. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“This conversation comes up every year really and Cricket Australia been pretty consistent over the last four or five years in the way they approach it,” Cummins said.

“My personal opinion is I absolutely love Australia and think it is the best country in the world by a mile.

“I think we should have an Australia Day but I think we can probably find a more appropriate date to celebrate.

“I think in particular with a sport like cricket which has such diversity and millions of people following it and supporting and playing it you get a good spectrum and a good feel of what the community kind of expects.’’

Cummins was speaking at an announcement that his Cricket for Climate initiative had seen the installation of solar panels at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane which are expected to save $50,000 in energy costs in the first year.

Cummins comments put him at odds with the majority of Australians, with a new Roy Morgan poll revealing 68.5% believe January 26 should be known as Australia Day and 58.5% say the date should not be changed.

Among those surveyed between ages 18-34, however, a change of mood was evident with 44% saying the day should be called Invasion Day and 49% saying it should be moved.

Cummins admitted hearing Indigenous Test players Scott Boland and Ash Gardner talk about Australia Day - both had reservations about playing on the date - had influenced his thoughts.

“Knowing a couple of those players ... you hear the stories and their feelings and it does gather extra importance.

“I think once you realise why January 26 is chosen. Australia is meant to be a celebration of everything Australia in our history. I think we could choose a better date.’’

January 26 is an acknowledgement of the arrival of the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788 and is a day many Indigenous Australians loathe as it salutes the start of the British “invasion.’’

Originally published as ‘More appropriate date’: Pat Cummins joins push to shift Australia Day