Big Bash 2021: BBL star Dan Christian trolled by racists online
Cricketer Dan Christian has revealed he has been subjected to horrible online racism since telling the PM to ‘read the room’ on Australia Day.
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Indigenous cricket star Dan Christian has been targeted by racist trolls on the back of his passionate push to stamp out racism in Australia.
Christian, 37, bravely called out two offenders by posting screen shots of their despicable messages to his Instagram account’s story, which has more than 30,000 followers.
One person called Josh told Christian to sell his sporting equipment “for a boomerang and hunt some kangaroos”.
In response Christian wrote: “Josh seems nice”.
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Another troll then sent Christian a private message supporting Josh’s comments.
The second troll said: “Without them (first fleet) you wouldn’t even been alive Mr. HalfCast”.
Christian captioned that one with: “Jim is lovely guy too”.
The racist comments were in response to Christian’s tweet, which targeted Scott Morrison after the Prime Minister took aim at Cricket Australia’s stance on Australia Day.
The sporting body has dropped the Australia Day tag and will only refer to Tuesday’s triple-header of Big Bash games as January 26 fixtures.
Christian told the Prime Minister to “read the room” – and was widely supported last week.
“There’ll be millions of kids watching our BBL games on the 26th January, and they’ll seen us taking a knee against racism, and promoting inclusion for all. Take note,” Christian said.
Latrell throws weight behind cricket’s Aus Day stance
Australia’s only male Indigenous Test representative has backed cricket’s controversial step away from Australia Day.
Jason Gillespie, one of the nation’s great modern era fast bowlers, has praised Cricket Australia for their leadership in recognising that January 26 is a painful day for Aboriginal people, and also backed Indigenous Big Bash star Dan Christian for standing up to the Prime Minister.
NRL Indigenous icon Latrell Mitchell threw his weight behind Christian and Cricket Australia as well for making a stance in the face of fierce political pressure.
Will Pucovski recently debuted as Australia’s 460th Test cricketer, but in 150 years, Gillespie remains the only male Aboriginal to play Tests for his country.
Gillespie – coach of the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL – told News Corp he is proud of Cricket Australia’s move to refer to the public holiday as ‘January 26’ rather than ‘Australia Day.’
“I’m proud that CA is leading the way regarding this important conversation,” said Gillespie, who also supported Christian in his decision to hit back at the Prime Minister on social media.
Scott Morrison described Cricket Australia’s decision as “pretty ordinary” and urged the game’s administrators to butt out of politics.
Christian responded via twitter, telling Morrison to “read the room.”
On Saturday, Christian also took aim at Liberal National Party Senator Gerard Rennick, who had lashed the Sydney Sixers star as a “self-entitled, privileged, professional sportsman with a persecution complex.”
Rennick also claimed Christian refer to the Federal Budget. “Billions are spent on assisting Aboriginals each year,” the Senator wrote.
Christian didn’t hold back: “Morning Senator. I don’t need to read the budget, that’s above my pay grade. I’m purely supporting Cricket Australia’s stance to change the date to a day that isn’t the anniversary of the beginning of the attempted genocide of our First Nations’ People. That’s all champ. Enjoy your day.”
South Sydney Rabbitohs star Latrell Mitchell is one of rugby league’s most passionate Aboriginal voices and he has rallied behind Christian on his Instagram page.
“I stand with Cricket Australia,” wrote Mitchell. “Such a positive step.”
Cricket Australia board member Mel Jones, part of the First Nations’ advisory committee which made the recommendation to go with ‘January 26’ in referencing all Big Bash matches played on Tuesday’s public holiday – revealed the Sydney Thunder have been leaders in the movement.
The Thunder have not referred to Australia Day for a number of years, but have done so quietly, wanting it to a subtle approach.
“We’ve been so impressed with the way in which the Thunder have gone about things and they’ve said January 26 for a number of years,” Jones told News Corp.
Morning Senator. I don’t need to read the budget, that’s above my pay grade. I’m purely supporting @CricketAus stance to change the date to a day that isn’t the anniversary of the beginning of the attempted genocide of our First Nations people. That’s all champ. Enjoy your day 😊
— Dan Christian (@danchristian54) January 23, 2021
Jones said a number of other sports have also expressed their support of Cricket Australia’s stance.
While many in the game agree with the sentiment and intentions behind CA’s move away from ‘Australia Day’, some BBL clubs are frustrated that they weren’t communicated with properly over the stance head office was taking.
The Melbourne Stars felt Cricket Australia’s recommendation to drop Australia Day was “rushed” and “arbitrary” and they will continue to promote their blockbuster against the Sydney Sixers as an ‘Australia Day’ bonanza.
Christian, who is passionate about promoting his Aboriginal heritage and urged the Big Bash League to introduce an Indigenous Round two years ago, couldn’t believe Morrison told cricket to stay out of politics.
“Read the room Mr Prime Minister,” Christian said on social media.
“(Cricket Australia) are leading the way because your government won’t.
“There’ll be millions of kids watching our BBL games on the 26th (of) January, and they’ll see us taking a knee against racism, and promoting inclusion for all.
“Take note.”
Batsman Usman Khawaja said Morrison’s response was “pretty petty” this week.
“CA could say the same thing vice versa but what’s that going to solve,” Khawaja said in response to Christian’s tweet.
“Someone needs to take action to figure out what works for us as a nation. Well said mate (Christian).”
The Big Bash League home-and-away season will conclude with a triple-header on Tuesday, including back-to-back matches at the MCG.
Morrison said it was “pretty ordinary” for CA to drop the Australia Day term in a decision made in consultation with its Indigenous advisory committee.
“It’s recognition that it’s a really hurtful day for many,” Mel Jones, co-chair of that committee, said.
“We‘ve got five Indigenous players playing those games and a lot of Indigenous fans that come to the cricket, we just want to make this space as safe and inclusive as possible.”
@ScottMorrisonMP read the room Mr Prime Minister. @CricketAus are leading the way because your government won’t. There’ll be millions of kids watching our @BBL games on the 26th January, and they’ll see us taking a knee against racism, and promoting inclusion for all. Take note.
— Dan Christian (@danchristian54) January 22, 2021
I think for ScoMo to say to CA "a bit more focus on cricket and a little less focus on politics" is pretty petty. CA could say the same thing vice versa but what's that going to solve. Someone needs to take action to figure out what works for us as a nation. Well said mate ðŸ‘🾠https://t.co/KjwK5VY1mE
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja) January 22, 2021
Christian and his Sydney Sixers will take on Melbourne Stars at the ‘G on January 26.
“I grew up in an Aboriginal family and it’s always something I’ve been proud of,” Christian told News Corp during his push for an Indigenous Round.
“I just like the idea of blokes like myself and D’Arcy Short and Scotty Boland and Josh Lalor and Brendan Doggett and then Ash Gardner over in the WBBL all promoting the sport amongst our people.
“And, hopefully, getting able to poach a few of those superstars in NRL and AFL.
“Hopefully we can drag them over to cricket, because we’ve seen so many superstars in other sports so I’m sure there’s some talent there to burn that we can hopefully bring over to cricket.”
STARS, SIXERS IN MORAL BATTLE OVER AUSTRALIA DAY
Cricket Australia’s decision to drop the Australia Day moniker from the Big Bash has resulted in a moral split between two teams who will face off on that day.
The Melbourne Stars have declared they will continue to promote the match as an ‘Australia Day’ blockbuster, while their opponents the Sydney Sixers will follow the CA recommendation to refer to the event as ‘January 26.’
CA’s bid to subtly make the public holiday more inclusive for Indigenous people has divided opinions both within and outside the game, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison labelling the decision as “pretty ordinary” and the Stars frustrated in their belief that administrators have made a “rushed” and “arbitrary” stance on a complex issue.
However, the Sixers playing and coaching squad have embraced the change in language and will on Friday be addressed by an Aboriginal elder who will provide an insight as to why January 26 is a day of mourning for Indigenous people.
Stars general manager Nick Cummins told News Corp that while he believes a proper discussion needs to be had over whether the date of Australia Day should be changed, his club will still continue to promote its match at the MCG as ‘Australia Day’, disagreeing with how CA have gone about making their stance.
“We are referring to it as Australia Day. We believe there’s a broader conversation that needs to be had about Australia Day and the date but that needs to be had in conjunction with all stakeholders in Victorian Cricket and done in a timely and constructive manner and not rushed through and done arbitrarily,” Cummins told News Corp.
In any social media build-up the Sixers provide in what is a Stars home game, they will follow CA’s recommendations and limit all references to ‘January 26.’
Highly respected Cricket Australia board member and Fox Sports expert Mel Jones, who is co-chair of the First Nation’s advisory committee that put forward the recommendations about ‘January 26’, said the game was big enough to have a robust discussion about the issue.
When the Prime Minister weighed into the NRL’s short-lived decision to dump the national anthem from the State of Origin series, the call was overturned within hours.
But CA is refusing to bow to pressure from the PM.
Morrison didn’t hold back with his thoughts on the issue.
“I think a bit more focus on cricket, and a little less focus on politics would be my message to Cricket Australia,” Morrison told radio 4R0.
“I think that’s pretty ordinary – that’s what they’re putting on their press releases – that would be my view.”
He said the arrival of European settlers “wasn’t a particularly flash day” for convicts on board, as he defended the Australia Day date.
Jones reiterated that CA has no issue with the Stars or any other club disregarding the recommendation, and said CA stood by its decision despite the criticism.
“I think I was expecting it. We understand that it’s a hard conversation to have with some people and Cricket Australia certainly does not shield away from having tough conversations on a number of matters,” said Jones.
“That’s what’s the really encouraging thing is that we are respectful of everyone and their opinions and we’re just hoping that this will cause a lot of emotive reactions from a lot of people.
“We’re happy to talk through those, we just want to make sure it’s done in a really respectful way.
“It’s always a tricky one in some ways having these kinds of conversations. The decision making process has been a long one and it’s a process that also has been tried and tested over a number of things.
“We’ve been pretty true to our values as an organisation and support of people and this has been spoken about to clubs, to players, State associations right across the board.
“You’ve got to be very open to the fact that with a lot of social change these days, people are on a different path and you can’t expect everyone to jump on board with exactly how you’re thinking. “Us coming out and giving clubs a slap on the wrist because they’re not agreeing with us just goes against everything I’ve just spoken about.”
There will be no smoking ceremony or barefoot circle before the Sixers and Stars clash at the MCG and neither club has an Indigenous strip, however both teams will take a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matters movement – as they have done all season.
Cricket Australia Diversity and Inclusion manager Adam Cassidy said the aim is to draw a balance between supporting Indigenous communities without making drastic moves like stopping cricket on January 26.
“Even referencing it as January 26, you’ll see in CA marketing collateral, we’ll reference it as that, but that’s not to say some clubs might still call it Australia Day,” said Cassidy.
“That’s fine and that’s their call.
“As a stretch reconciliation action plan organisation, we know we have a higher level of accountability to be leaders in this space.
“In many ways it forces our hand to be a bit braver in how we operate.
“Ultimately I think if we got it right, people who have traditionally come to the cricket on that day and have had a ripping day shouldn’t notice anything different. It’s really the cohort of people who aren’t comfortable with the day that we hope we’ve made enough tweaks to make it a safe enough environment to also enjoy the day.
“It’s not about changing the day for those who love it, it’s about creating an environment others (can also enjoy).”
A meeting of the First Nations advisory committee back in early December had the January 26 issue as a key agenda item.
The majority of members are Aboriginal and Indigenous people, and all on the committee were on the same page in dropping the Australia Day terminology.
But the committee warned against more drastic action like a making a stand for change the date or not having any matches on January 26, with members conscious of making an already divisive day even more unsafe for those Australians already feeling vulnerable.
“Ultimately we can take their advice or leave it. The committee was very much on the same page about the day and their key bit of advice was the cricketing public probably wouldn’t be ready for a statement like we’re not ready to play cricket on that day,” said Cassidy.
“It’s a day of mourning for first nations people and a growing group of allies to First Nations people and it’s a day when a large number of members of our community actually do feel unsafe on that day. So with that being the case, the last thing we wanted to do was go too hard in either direction.
“What we don’t want to do is create a divisive environment where First Nations people are going to feel unsafe regardless of our stance.
“Even if we had a strong stance in favour of changing the date, that could actually create an environment that is not safe.”
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