Australian cricket stars have hit out on the governing physique after matches have been scheduled to happen on January 26 subsequent 12 months.
While nonetheless often known as Australia Day, the requires the date to be modified have solely grown stronger in current instances.
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Now two of Australia’s greatest stars have hit out after Cricket Australia launched its summer season of cricket schedule on Monday.
Australia will sq. off towards the West Indies, taking part in the primary day-night Test on the Gabba in 5 years.
The Test commences on January 25, that means the second day of the Test will fall on Australia Day.
Usman Khawaja mentioned he was effective taking part in cricket on the day, however known as for the date of Australia Day to be modified.
Fellow star Ash Gardner slammed the scheduling, saying no sport ought to be performed on what’s a “day of mourning”.
Pakistan-born Khawaja mentioned the date of Australia Day ought to be moved to a date that “caters for all parts of Australia”.
“We should celebrate it on a day that caters for all parts of Australia, and I’m big on that in Australian cricket too,” he mentioned.
“You’ve got First Nations people, we’ve got myself (who are) immigrants who’ve come to Australia.
“We do need to look at it. I think it doesn’t matter when you celebrate Australia Day – the reasons you’re celebrating Australia Day are more important.
“You’re celebrating for Australia, celebrating for you, celebrating for me, celebrating it for First Nations people, celebrating for all the multicultural communities we have across Australia.
“We’re all immigrants here, other than First Nations people, so for me, Australia Day is a beautiful day and I honestly believe it should be celebrated on another day.”
Gardner didn’t pull any punches when she spoke about Cricket Australia scheduling a match on Australia Day.
“I just don’t understand why this one day of the year – which is a day of mourning, which doesn’t have a very good history of what happened on that day, that there needs to be cricket,” she mentioned to CODE Sports.
“I see sport as a celebration and entertainment and an event you want to go to. Why does there need to be something that represents something that’s quite morbid.
“It’s probably not overly appropriate.”
Gardner believes probably the most highly effective message the game can ship is to not play on January 26 in any respect.
“I understand the education piece and I think it’s super important. But I remember we had these discussions leading up to January 26 earlier this year around getting an elder to come and do a Welcome to Country,” Gardner mentioned.
“That’s probably the one day of the year an elder will not do that. If you understand the meaning of what the Welcome to Country is, you’re welcoming people onto your land. Welcoming people onto stolen land is probably not appropriate.
“Everyone just goes, ‘oh someone can do an Acknowledgement of Country’ – well it’s not the same thing.”
Australian captain Meg Lanning says she totally helps star teammate Ash Gardner‘s stance that it’s “not overly appropriate” to play on January 26.
“I’m fully supportive of Ash and her stance, as is the team,” she mentioned.
“We understand it’s a very sensitive issue for a lot of people. The scheduling is a little bit out of control of the players’ hands.
“As a group we are undertaking a lot of education around Indigenous culture and trying to learn as much as we can and will continue to do that.
“We’ll leave the scheduling to those who make those decisions and make sure we are in the best position to understand what’s happening.”
2023-24 SUMMER OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
Women’s T20I Series vs West Indies
1 October: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
2 October: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (N)
5 October: Allan Border Field, Brisbane (N)
Women’s ODI Series vs West Indies
8 October: Allan Border Field, Brisbane
12 October: Junction Oval, Melbourne
15 October: Junction Oval, Melbourne
Women’s T20I Series vs South Africa
27 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra
28 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra
30 January: Blundstone Arena, Hobart (N)
Women’s ODI Series vs South Africa
3 February: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
7 February: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (D/N)
10 February: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (D/N)
Women’s Test Match vs South Africa
15-18 February: WACA Ground, Perth
Men’s Test Series v Pakistan
14-18 December: Perth Stadium, Perth
26-30 December: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
3-7 January: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Men’s Test Series vs West Indies
17-21 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
25-29 January: The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N)
Men’s ODI Series vs West Indies
2 February: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (D/N)
4 February: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (D/N)
6 February: Manuka Oval, Canberra (D/N)
Dettol Men’s T20I Series vs West Indies
9 February: Blundstone Arena, Hobart (N)
11 February: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (N)
13 February: Perth Stadium, Perth
Tour Matches
28 September: NSW Women vs West Indies Women, Wilson Park, Sydney
6-9 December: PMs XI Men vs Pakistan, Manuka Oval, Canberra
10-13 January: CA XI vs West Indies, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
24 January: Governor-General’s XI vs South Africa, North Sydney Oval, Sydney
Originally revealed as Ash Gardner and Usman Khawaja have known as for Australia Day change
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
