Greg Ritchie slams Cricket Australia’s Oz Day snub as pressure builds on woke sport
Cricket Australia confirms the term ‘Australia Day’ will not be used when Australia plays the second day of its Brisbane clash with the West Indies on Friday but denies it’s a boycott. VOTE in our poll.
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Cricket Australia has confirmed the term “Australia Day” will not be used when Australia plays the second day of its Brisbane clash with the West Indies on Friday.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley said they’re not boycotting Australia Day, but instead promoting more inclusivity.
“We’re not in any way boycotting Australia Day, we want to play cricket on Australia Day,” Mr Hockley told 2GB’s Ben Fordham on Tuesday.
“We’re just mindful that in our communication materials and it’s that simple, it means different things to different people and we’re respectful and we just want everyone to feel welcome.”
The chief executive said the governing body is taking a consistent and neutral approach.
“Our stance is as neutral as it can get, we want everyone to come along and have a fantastic time to celebrate the cricket,” he said.
“And as it relates to our players, we consulted extensively over the last four or five years, we’ve got a wonderful committee that comes together and provides advice on these things.”
When Fordham asked if the term “Australia Day” would play on the loudspeaker this Friday, Mr Hockley replied, “I don’t believe so, no.”
It comes after cricket great Greg Ritchie hit out at the decision to not use the term on Friday’s day of play.
“I am quite disappointed to read the Cricket Australia has decided not to use the phrase ‘Australia Day’ for this Test match,” Mr Ritchie said Monday.
“It will be at the Gabba, which is my home ground, and to have an Australia Day Test there is special.”
Mr Ritchie, who played in 30 Tests and 44 one-day internationals for Australia in the 1980s, said that “we had a referendum last year which indicated the views of 60 per cent of Australians.”
“To me that indicates that we are in fact closer than ever to being one nation, and the 26th of January should be embraced by all Australians, every Australian, no matter what their colour or creed or race, in celebration of our great nation.”
Mr Ritchie’s comments came after it was revealed that Cricket Australia will not use the term “Australia Day” when the two sides face off this week, saying they were instead keen to promote inclusivity.
News of CA’s decision came on the heels of reports that the organisers of the Australian Open tennis tournament would also not mark Australia Day and controversy around Woolworths’ decision not to stock Australia Day merchandise.
Nationals leader David Littleproud said that a small group of elite CEOs and board directors were seeking to “undermine” Australia Day, despite the overwhelming number of Australians supporting the holiday being celebrated on January 26.
“Who are they to undermine Australia Day?” Mr Littleproud said of the ongoing controversy.
“It is not up to a few select CEOs and board members to use sporting institutions and corporations as platforms for their own personal views.”
Mr Littleproud said that it also sent a bad message to young cricket fans to downplay the day.
“It’s pure selfishness … our responsibility as a generation that has enjoyed the benefits of this country should at every opportunity be louder about educating the next generation of this country.”
“If Cricket Australian is saying they want to have a respectful and inclusive day, it is hardly inclusive when we say to (the majority of Australians who support Australia Day) that we’re not going to talk about it.”
“Cricket Australia has lost the plot.”
Earlier on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told Sky News that “I think we need to stop looking for areas in which we can be outraged – we need to come together,” when asked about the controversies.
However NSW Premier Chris Minns said that both tennis and cricket authorities should mark Australia Day.
“The idea that you would take a national day away from any country, particularly Australia, is a strange one,” he said.
“We should, right now, (be) trying to pull each other together, and this is the day that we’ve set aside to celebrate what it means to live in the greatest country on Earth.”
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