Cricket Australia opts out of Australia Day battle with summer rivals, former Australian captain has his say

Cricket officials have accepted there is one Australia Day battle they cannot win and a former Australian cricket captain has provided his reaction to the decision.

Cricket’s greatest summer rival has prompted it to avoid playing on Australia Day next year.

Cricket Australia has decided not to play matches on Australia Day this season but has not ruled out returning to the date that triggers an annual public firestorm.

CA’s decision, which has been backed by broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7, was made easy because Australia Day – January 26, a Sunday – is also the date for the mega-rating Australia Open men’s tennis final.

The Australian men’s cricket team will be absent in Sri Lanka on that date, the national women’s team will play England in a T20 on Australia Day eve and the Big Bash final will be held on the Monday public holiday, the day after the Australian Open final that broadcasters and CA were keen to avoid to maximise their audience.

Any matches that would have been scheduled on Australia Day would have clashed with the cricket. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

“We determined January 27 was the best date for the BBL Final this season as it would give as many fans as possible the chance to attend or watch one of Australian sport’s great occasions,’’ a Cricket Australia spokesman said.

“We make our scheduling decisions based on the best interests of fans and do not rule out playing on any day in the future.’’

After meeting with broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel 7, Cricket Australia elected not to take on the Australian Open with the Big Bash final or the women’s match.

There have been occasions when cricket has played a game on Australian men’s final day but the fact the Big Bash game was the final of the competition, rather than a routine game or even a semi-final, played a part in the decision.

Former Australian captain Kim Hughes can understand why no professional cricket will be played on Australia Day for the first time in 31 years but says CA should have no qualms about returning to the date.

Australia captain Kim Hughes can understand why no professional cricket will be played on Australia Day. Picture: Adrian Murrell/Allsport/ Getty Images/Hulton Archive

“I have always considered it a very special day - and not just because it is my birthday,‘’ Hughes told this masthead.

“Given the Australian Open final is on I think it is a sensible call not to take it on this season but I still believe Australia should continue to celebrate the day and play cricket on it when it has the chance to.

“I feel very strongly about this. If people don’t want to celebrate it and have other ideas that is absolutely fine. But don’t stop other people from celebrating.

“In Australia we have four or five really special days including Anzac Day and Melbourne Cup and Australia Day is one of them.

“We have England coming out next year and if they are playing on Australia Day it could be massive.‘’

Adelaide was for many years the traditional home of cricket on Australia Day and next year will be the first time since 1993-94 no professional cricket in Australia was played on Australia Day.

Australian women’s star and Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner criticised Australia last year for scheduling a T20 match against Pakistan on Australia Day.

Gardner, the second Australian Indigenous woman to play Tests, 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.

Proud Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner has been an outspoken critic of playing cricket on Australia Day. Picture: Barrington Coombs – ECB/ECB via Getty Images

The issue triggered a fiery national debate this year when January 26 was a playing day for the Australian men’s team in its 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.

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 working hard to increase 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.

Originally published as Cricket Australia opts out of Australia Day battle with summer rivals, former Australian captain has his say