Tennis ratings wipeout fears led to cricket avoiding Australia Day
By Daniel Brettig
Fears of a broadcast ratings wipeout in the face of the Australian Open men’s final led Cricket Australia to avoid playing on Australia Day this summer.
In scheduling discussions for the season, Big Bash League and women’s internationals host broadcaster Seven requested that the final Sunday of the tennis grand slam be skirted around by CA’s calendar.
Usman Khawaja bats on January 26 at the Gabba earlier this year.Credit: Getty Images
According to an industry source with knowledge of confidential discussions, Seven initiated the move to create maximum “clear air” for matches played on either side of January 26, when the men’s final will be played. The Australian Open is broadcast by Nine, owners of this masthead.
Last summer, the Australian Open men’s final attracted a national audience of 2.12 million. It ran up against the thrilling conclusion to the men’s day/night Test match between Australia and the West Indies at the Gabba, which was watched by a national audience of 1.36 million in the second session on Seven while also simulcast on Fox Cricket.
An Australia v South Africa women’s international played later that evening was watched by a far smaller national audience of 251,000, as the tennis dominated audience preferences.
CA’s chief executive Nick Hockley flatly rejected the contention that the decision to avoid January 26 had anything to do with controversy about the date of Australia Day, which has customarily been an occasion on which cricket is played. He also indicated that cricket would be played on January 26 in future summers.
“No. We look at everything going on,” Hockley said. “There’s the Aussie Open final on [the 26th], so we felt we’d get a bigger audience if we didn’t go head-to-head, and we’re very open to playing on Australia Day in future years.
“We always schedule with the fans in mind, we sit down with our broadcast partners and it is whatever is going to get the biggest audience.”
January 26 falls on a Monday and then a Tuesday in 2026 and 2027, respectively.
Other factors in complex scheduling discussions for the season included the fact that the national men’s team will be in Sri Lanka preparing for a Test match on January 26.
That series is taking place earlier than usual because of the ODI Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan in February ahead of the Indian Premier League in March.
TEST SCHEDULE THIS SUMMER
- 1st Test, Perth: November 22-26
- 2nd Test, Adelaide: December 6-10
- 3rd Test, Brisbane: December 14-18
- 4th Test, Melbourne: December 26-30
- 5th Test, Sydney: January 3-7
Australian men’s team coach Andrew McDonald, who has signed a two-year contract extension to helm the side in all formats until the end of 2027, said the team had no qualms about playing on January 26 but the decision was out of their hands.
“That’s a decision that’s made by others,” he said. “It has been a day we’ve played cricket on, but there’s plenty of other days to play cricket on also.”
Indigenous members of the Australian women’s and men’s team have previously expressed their views on playing cricket on January 26, including the fast bowler Scott Boland and Ash Gardner.
“It’s a day of mourning for a lot of people. I’m not sure January 26 is the day that is inclusive of everyone,” Boland, Australia’s only active male Indigenous international cricketer, told this masthead last year. “Maybe it’s a bit of a broader discussion for other people.
“Unfortunately it’s not for players to decide when we play. CA sorts out the schedule.
“I still think I’d play. I don’t think it’s a day to celebrate. The Test schedule this summer is a bit different to the last few years, given it’s been pushed back due to the [50-over] World Cup. I’m sure moving forward Cricket Australia … might set out a different plan going forward.”
Captain Pat Cummins has also expressed a preference for a date change for Australia Day.
“I absolutely love Australia … but I think we can probably find a more appropriate date to celebrate it,” he said. “Knowing a couple of those players [Gardner and Boland], you hear the stories and their feelings. Something that does gather extra importance.
“I think it is hard because January 26 does mean something different to different people. I think we’re all in unison that we absolutely love Australia and feel really lucky and privileged to be here in this country. But it is a delicate one. It’s going to be a tough day for some.”
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