Cricket Australia launches transgender, gender-diverse policy

A new policy ensures transgender and gender-diverse people can play cricket at the highest level.

Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts, transgender cricketer Erica James and Dr David Hughes pose during the Cricket Australia Major Policy Announcement. Picture: Getty

The AFL found itself mired in negative headlines when transgender footballer Hannah Mouncey failed in an attempt to join the AFLW. Cricket Australia is no doubt hoping to avoid such issues with the launch of its transgender and gender-diverse policy.

A policy that ensures transgender and gender-diverse people can play cricket at the highest level in Australia was announced this morning.

It will mean that cricketers such as transgender player Erica James, who pads up with the Universities Women’s Cricket Club in Sydney, will be welcomed into the game.

And it will head off the sort of headlines that accompanied Mouncey’s failed attempt to register for the AFLW draft in 2017.

Cricket Australia has developed an elite-level policy, as well as guidelines for community cricket, to support players competing in line with their gender identity, whether or not this aligns with the sex they are born with.

CA boss Kevin Roberts says as strength, stamina and physique are all relevant factors in sport, transgender and gender diverse players will be supported to participate in top flight cricket, subject to certain criteria.

Transgender or gender-diverse players seeking to compete in the female-elite category must demonstrate a concentration of testosterone in serum less than 10 nanomoles per litre continuously for 12 months or more.

Today we take a major step to ensure inclusiveness is at the heart of Australian Cricket.

Learn more about the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in the game: https://t.co/XbewXwazH4#ASportForAll pic.twitter.com/cRlM2TKx21

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 7, 2019

It follows the AFL’s introduction last year of a gender diversity policy, which requires athletes to submit individual applications for the AFLW.

They also have to submit to a series of strength tests and provide proof they are under the AFL’s testosterone limit for two years — which is 5 nanomole/litre.

Mouncey was barred from the AFLW in its second season based on her strength and stature.

James, who grew up playing cricket as a boy but drifted away from the sport as she battled with her gender identity, has won the support of her friend Alex Blackwell, the former Australian captain.

Blackwell says cricket is the nation’s favourite sport and every Australian should be able to play it. And that includes James.

“Once I made the decision to transition, one of the first things I did was Google ‘trans-friendly cricket club’,” says James. “Two days later I was meeting Alex Blackwell and the committee of the Universities Women’s Cricket Club.

“Even more exciting was the first time I held a cricket bat for the first time in 27 years.”

Blackwell says: “Australian cricket has a really wonderful purpose and that’s to be Australia’s favourite sport and a sport for all Australians.

“And it’s really important that we live by that and we walk the talk.”

Roberts says the new policy “strikes a balance between the opportunity to participate and ensuring fair competition.”

He says the policy will align closely with the International Cricket Council’s Eligibility on the Basis of Gender Recognition, while a referral process to an expert panel has been established to ensure fair and meaningful competition. Roberts adds guidelines for grassroots level cricket will assist clubs, players, administrators, coaches and other volunteers deliver a “safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, free of harassment and discrimination for gender diverse players.”

Australian cricketer Megan Schutt welcomed the policy announcement and said inclusion mattered “in every sense.”

“Now that we know that anyone who is transgender or gender diverse has a chance to play cricket at the highest level — and rightfully so — I’m confident that the elite cricket policy will provide a fair process for transgender and gender diverse cricketers to embark on that pathway,” she said.

Additional reporting AAP