- January 26 has become very divisive day for Aussies
- Sporting events are often lightning rods for criticism
Cricket fans across the nation won’t see any team in green and gold playing on Australia Day next year – but the sport’s bosses say the decision has nothing to do with previous controversies that have unfolded in and around the national public holiday.
The Australian Open men’s singles final is set down for the night of the 26th, and is always a TV ratings bonanza.
Tennis’s showpiece is one of the chief reasons Cricket Australia has elected to stage the Big Bash Final on January 27 – which is a public holiday in 2025.
Broadcasters Fox Sports and Channel Seven have backed the governing body’s decision.
‘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 told News Corp.
‘We make our scheduling decisions based on the best interests of fans and do not rule out playing on any day in the future.’
In January this year, Cricket Australia pledged not to mention the words ‘Australia Day’ during the Gabba Test in Brisbane.
Day two of the second Test against the West Indies fell on the controversial public holiday.
Cricket fans across the nation won’t be able to see any fixtures on Australia Day next year – but it has nothing to do with past controversies that have unfolded leading into January 26 (pictured, skipper Pat Cummins)
In January this year, Cricket Australia pledged not to mention the words ‘Australia Day’ during the Gabba Test in Brisbane (pictured, off-spinner Nathan Lyon)
Pat Cummins recently confirmed the Welcome to Country (pictured) will be performed before each Test in the upcoming series against India
Scheduling the Test over the Australia Day weekend was itself controversial in the eyes of some, with women’s all-rounder Ash Gardner – who is Indigenous – previously describing it as a day of ‘hurt and mourning.’
Gardner found support from men’s Test captain Pat Cummins and star batter Steve Smith.
Both claimed January 26 is not an appropriate time to celebrate the national holiday, with the date a highly controversial issue due to the landing of the First Fleet from Britain in Australia.
Smith formed his view after chatting with teammate Scott Boland, who has Indigenous heritage.
The stance of the cricketers angered some sections of the public at the time, with 3AW Morning host Tom Elliott scathing in his criticism of Cummins.
‘He makes me angry,’ Elliott said. ‘He sits there and pontificates, saying ‘ah, well Australia Day is a source of hurt for so many people, we have to move the date’.
‘Hey Pat Cummins, you get paid millions of dollars to pay cricket. If it wasn’t for the British settlement of Australia there wouldn’t be cricket here.
‘So you make money, quite directly, out of the fact we were colonised by the UK.
‘Then you sit there criticising the whole thing. ‘He is just an out-and-out hypocrite.’
In what has been a polarising move dating back to 2021, Cricket Australia has not mentioned the words ‘Australia Day’ in any of its marketing or promotions events.
