- January 26 has become a very divisive day for Australians.
- Sports events are often lightning rods for criticism
Cricket fans across the country won’t see any team clad in green and gold playing on Australia Day next year, but sport bosses say the decision has nothing to do with previous controversies that have unfolded during and around the national holiday.
The men’s singles final of the Australian Open is scheduled for the night of the 26th and is always a bonanza of television audiences.
The tennis masterpiece is one of the main reasons why Cricket Australia has chosen to host 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 that January 27 was the best date for the BBL final this season as it would give as many fans as possible the opportunity to attend or watch one of the great events in Australian sport,” a spokesperson for Cricket Australia. News Corporation.
“We make our scheduling decisions based on the best interests of the 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.
The second day of the second Test against the West Indies fell on the controversial public holiday.
Cricket fans across the country won’t be able to watch any Australia Day matches next year, but it has nothing to do with past controversies that ran up to January 26 (pictured, captain Pat Cummins).
In January this year, Cricket Australia pledged not to mention the words “Australia Day” during the Gabba Test in Brisbane (pictured, Nathan Lyon).
Pat Cummins recently confirmed that the country welcome (pictured) will take place 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 all-rounder Ash Gardner, who is Indigenous, previously describing it as a day of “pain and mourning”.
Gardner found support from men’s Test captain Pat Cummins and star batsman Steve Smith.
Both stated that January 26 is not an appropriate time to celebrate the national holiday, the date being a highly controversial issue due to the landing of Britain’s First Fleet in Australia.
Smith formed his opinion after chatting with teammate Scott Boland, who is of Indigenous heritage.
The cricketers’ stance angered some sections of the public at the time, with 3AW Morning presenter Tom Elliott scathingly criticizing Cummins.
“It makes me angry,” Elliott said. “You sit there and pontificate, saying ‘ah well, Australia Day is a source of pain for so many people, we have to change the date’.”
‘Hey Pat Cummins, you get paid millions of dollars to pay for cricket. If it weren’t for the British settlement in Australia, there would be no cricket here.
“So money is made, quite directly, from the fact that we were colonized by the United Kingdom.
Then you sit there criticizing the whole thing. “He’s just an absolute hypocrite.”
In what has been a polarizing move dating back to 2021, Cricket Australia has not mentioned the words “Australia Day” in any of its marketing or promotional events.