Cricket news 2023: Teammates, Isa Guha rally behind star Ashleigh Gardner after strong stance on January 26

Teammates and commentator Isa Guha have rallied behind Aussie Indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner after she criticised a controversial call from Cricket Australia.

Teammates have rallied around Indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner after she called out Cricket Australia for scheduling a women’s international on January 26.

Gardner will still play for Australia against Pakistan on Thursday night in Hobart, but has made it clear she disapproves of her own organisation scheduling the national team to play on “a day of mourning” for Aboriginal people.

The bold Twitter post caused a firestorm on social media and prompted teammates led by Jessica Jonassen and Alana King and Fox Cricket anchor Isa Guha to stand up in support of Gardner, a proud Muruwari woman and reigning Belinda Clark medallist.

In addition to wearing an Indigenous playing strip when it faces Pakistan in the T20, the Australian women’s team will wear socks and wristbands in the colours of the Aboriginal flag.

But Gardner is adamant Australia should not be playing on January 26 at all.

“As a proud Muruwari woman and reflecting on what Jan 26 means to me and my people it is a day of hurt and a day of mourning,” Gardner wrote on Twitter.

Ashleigh Gardner is a proud indigenous woman, and an Australian cricket star. Picture: Getty

“My culture is something I hold close to my heart and something I’m always so proud to speak about whenever asked.

“I also am fortunate enough to play cricket for a living which is something I dreamt of as a kid.

“Unfortunately this year the Australian women’s cricket team has been scheduled to play a game on the 26th of Jan which certainly doesn’t sit well with me as an individual but also all the people I’m representing.”

Gardner copped a barrage of criticism and abuse from social media trolls over her stance, but her teammates rallied in support.

“Seeing the comments to this story further reiterates the importance of further educating our society around issues our First Nations people still face and what they have and continue to endure,” fellow Australian star, Jonassen said.

Australian spinner Alana King wrote: “We’re all right with ya girl” with an emoji of a clenched fist.

The voice of Fox Cricket Guha expressed her dismay at some of the reaction to Gardner’s stance.

“Some of the comments here are indicative of the lack of empathy around this subject,” Guha wrote.

“The cricket community need to come together and show that indigenous communities are truly welcome here rather than push them away even more surely?”

Some of the comments here are indicative of the lack of empathy around this subject. The cricket community need to come together & show that indigenous communities are truly welcome here rather than push them away even more surely? https://t.co/tLQzrMCugc

— Isa Guha (@isaguha) January 22, 2023

Cricket Australia has chosen not to schedule any Big Bash League games on January 26 this year and won’t refer to the day as Australia Day in any marketing of the women’s T20 game in Hobart on Thursday evening.

According to Gardner, it’s inappropriate for the Australian women’s team to be playing, and CA said it understood her view.

“For the past three years, Cricket Australia has referenced the day as 26 January, rather than Australia Day, which reflects our vision of being a sport for all and providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone involved in cricket,” CA said in a statement.

“Cricket Australia acknowledges 26 January is a day that has multiple meanings and evokes mixed feelings in communities across our richly diverse nation. We respectfully acknowledge it is a challenging day for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for some people the day is regarded as a day of mourning.

“Cricket Australia understands and acknowledges Ash’s position and appreciates her leadership and the contributions of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to the game of cricket.”

Gardner said despite her objections, she will still play the match and will try and use the platform to educate people on why it’s a painful day for the Aboriginal Australians.

“As a national team we have a platform to raise awareness about certain issues and I’m using this platform to hopefully help educate others on a journey to learn about the longest living culture in the world,” Gardner said.

“For those who don’t have a good understanding of what that day means it was the beginning of genocide, massacres and dispossession.

“When I take the field for this game I will certainly be reflecting and thinking about all of my ancestors and people’s lives who changed from this day.”

Originally published as Cricket news 2023: Teammates, Isa Guha rally behind star Ashleigh Gardner after strong stance on January 26