Cricket Australia facing pressure on whether to schedule cricket on Australia Day

Cricket Australia is under the pump to make a difficult scheduling decision regarding next year’s West Indies tour - and the controversy that would come with playing on January 26.

Cricket Australia is facing a major conundrum over whether to schedule a Test match against the West Indies on Australia Day next year.

The West Indies, who strongly back the Black Lives Matter movement, are touring for two Tests from mid-January next summer and anxieties are rising over a looming decision on whether or not the second Test should be played over January 26.

Indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner on Sunday called out Cricket Australia for scheduling the women’s national team to play on January 26 this summer, feeling it is inappropriate as it is a day of mourning for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

After supporting Gardner in her views, Cricket Australia are now under enormous pressure to find the right balance for next summer’s schedule given broadcasters will want big time cricket on Australia Day – and were already bemused at their being no Big Bash set for January 26 this summer.

Ashleigh Gardner isn’t happy with Cricket Australia, who are now under the pump. Picture: Phil Hillyard

With Australia Day falling on a Friday next year, having a Test match run from January 26 over the weekend would hit the ratings sweet spot for Channel 7 and Fox Sports who would be looking to give fixtures against the struggling West Indies the maximum boost.

It’s possible Cricket Australia could schedule the two Windies Tests to wrap up before January 26, but with white ball games drafted against the Windies for early February it would make more sense for the Tests to continue later into January – and at that point broadcasters would want them spanning over a long weekend.

Justin Mohamed, a member of Cricket Australia’s Indigenous Advisory Committee (NATSICAC) said his panel will discuss the best way to schedule the Tests against the West Indies in respect to January 26.

“Every year we go through the scheduling of matches and the BBL and the WBBL have Indigenous rounds,” Mohamed said.

“The West Indies, they’re over next year. They’ll definitely be part of what we can do with the summer of cricket and how best we can utilise that and take the opportunity to ensure we can use our great game to build a more unified Australia.

Australia dominated the West Indies this summer. Picture: William West

“If that means there could be that a visiting nation is interested to learn more about the First Nations people of this country, and our national side is very keen to learn more, it could be quite a unique summer for a visiting team to have that experience.”

Mohamed said he could not speak for other members of his NATSICAC, but while praising Gardner for her courage in expressing her views, his personal opinion is that he doesn’t want the significance of January 26 for Aboriginal people to be lost by not playing cricket on that day.

“At the moment the debate is about celebrating Australia Day on the 26th, should it happen? Should it not happen? Should the date be changed to have a date that’s more inclusive? But the 26th will still be a very important date in the history of Australia and what happened that day,” Mohamed said.

“As an Aboriginal, I wouldn’t want to lose the significance of what the 26th is and what it played in the history of Australia.

“That’s the key. What we do on that day. How we will remember that day.

“A sporting event or on an event like an international game could provide a platform to provide the education, the true history of what happened and so people don’t forget the significance of the day.”

Mohamed used the example of ANZAC Day AFL and NRL matches as an example that sporting events can be played on solemn days of reflection.

The AFL’s ANZAC Day clash is arguably the biggest game of the home and away season. Picture: Mark Stewart

Gardner was at Australian training at North Sydney Oval on Monday, as her skipper Meg Lanning rallied around the Indigenous star.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions as a group around the game on Jan 26. I’d like to say that we’re fully supportive of Ash and her stance and her feelings and views around it,” Lanning said.

“It’s something that we can’t control in terms of the scheduling and playing on that day, but something we would like to do is acknowledge is the sadness and grief that day brings for First Nations people.

“We’re going to try to use the opportunity we have to educate ourselves and try to create a better understanding of what it means and their culture. It’s a really united front in the group and we all support Ash and her feelings around the day.”