Cricket Australia makes massive decision about playing games on Australia Day

Cricket will be an invisible sport on Australia Day for the first time in 31 years but the fans want it back next year. Cricket Australia has made a crucial decision about the future.

Cricket will be an invisible sport on Australia Day for the first time in 31 years but the fans want it back next year.

And Cricket Australia is set to deliver their wish following sensitive discussions with its Indigenous advisory group.

Because Australia Day (January 26) falls next Sunday, the same day as the Australian Open men’s tennis final, Cricket Australia has elected to move the Big Bash final to the public holiday Monday, the next day, to maximise its viewing audience.

A survey of 3000 fans conducted by this masthead, about 95 per cent of readers want cricket played on Australia Day.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 14: A supporter in the crowd waves and Australia flag during the Fourth One Day International match between Australia and the West Indies at The Gabba on February 14, 2010 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

CA confirmed when recently releasing their latest Reconciliation Action Plan, they are planning to “respectfully deliver’’ Australia Day games in the future.

“We will play international or Big Bash matches on January 26 depending on the schedule each season,” CA said in a statement.

“Cricket Australia will continue to collaborate with stakeholders and our advisory group to ensure all matches are delivered respectfully.”

Playing cricket on Australia Day has become a sensitive issue with Australian women’s star and Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner criticising Australia last year for scheduling a T20 match against Pakistan on Australia Day.

The second Australian Indigenous woman to play Tests, Gardner said the arrival of the first fleet in Australia in 1788 was a “day of hurt’’ for Indigenous Australians and playing on the anniversary of that day did not sit well with her.

The issue triggered an emotion national debate last year when January 26 fell during the Australian men’s teams final Test of the summer against the West Indies at the Gabba.

Cricket Australia has not mentioned the words Australia Day in its marketing or promotions for cricket events since 2021 and the initial plan was for the Gabba ground announcer not to mention Australia Day when he welcomed the public before play at the Gabba.

Nathan Lyon and the Australian cricket team during the Sydney Test. Picture: Tom Parrish

A public backlash resulted in that decision being overturned.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said before the Test he felt Australia should choose a “more appropriate date’’ to celebrate Australia Day than January 26.

Australia is committed to increasing its Indigenous participation in cricket and is not proud of the statistic that fast bowler Jason Gillespie and Scott Boland remain Australia’s only two Indigenous male cricketers to play for Australia in Tests.

When Gillespie became Australia’s Indigenous Test cricketer that fact was not even acknowledged when he made his Test debut.

Originally published as Cricket Australia makes massive decision about playing games on Australia Day