Cricket Australia denies Australia Day boycott as January 26 cricket snubbed again in 2026

Cricket Australia will dodge the controversy of playing on Australia Day for the second time in as many years - but have rejected the theory that they’re boycotting the date.

Cricket Australia is adamant it has not boycotted Australia Day despite ignoring fan pleas and omitting it from the playing schedule for the second year in succession.

For the second summer in a row - and just the second time in 31 years - there will be no cricket on Australia Day (January 26) unless the Big Bash final the day before is washed out.

A survey on this website of several thousand fans revealed that 97% wanted cricket to be played on Australia Day which has been pencilled in as a reserve day for next summer’s Big Bash final.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said that Australia Day could still feature cricket if there is a washout is proof that there was no boycott of the day which has become a political hot potato and an unsolvable riddle for the game in Australia.

The spokesman said television broadcasters Channel 7 and Fox Sports had pushed for the game to be held on Sunday because it would have superior ratings to Monday.

A fan with an Australian flag at a Test match.

There was also the fact that because Monday is the final day of school holidays for some states, a match on Sunday would attract a superior crowd.

Several Australian cricketers such as leading women’s allrounder and Indigenous star Ash Gardner have previously said it is not appropriate for the Australian team to play on a day which commemorates the arrival of the first Fleet in 1788.

She said the day was one of “hurt and mourning’’ for Australia’s Indigenous citizens.

Dan Christian, the Indigenous all-rounder who played 43 white ball games for Australia, told this masthead on Tuesday he had an issue with the Australia Day date but was happy to see cricket played on it.

“I don’t think January 26 should be Australia Day but that is a completely separate issue to a cricket conversation,’’ Christisan said.

“I couldn’t care less if we play football or cricket on it. Particularly if it is a public holiday. It makes perfect sense to give fans something to watch.’’

Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon with the flag.

Former Test umpire Tony McQuillan, a former school teacher who once taught a subject called Imperialism and Racism which spotlighted many racial injustices in Australia, South Africa and India, said the issue needed more discussion.

“It’s contentious,’’ McQuillan said. “We need to sort out the politics before we can really sort out the cricket. We need to have more discussions with Indigenous people and ask do we need to find a more suitable date for it?’’

The Australian men’s team will not be involved in a home series at the time so many of its players will play in the concluding stages of the Big Bash to get them ready for the World T20 in India and Sri Lanka in February.

Cricket Australia officials have tied themselves in knots over how to treat Australia Day and have consulted Indigenous leaders on a “respectful’’ path forward.

Australia dropped the term Australia Day from its marketing campaigns four years ago, prompting criticism from then Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

There was no cricket on Australia Day last summer primarily due to the fact that it clashed with the Australian men’s tennis final which it will not do next year.

But CA, in its latest Reconciliation Action Plan, announced a desire to return to playing on Australia Day so it was a mild surprise to see the date avoided again.

Originally published as Cricket Australia denies Australia Day boycott as January 26 cricket snubbed again in 2026