Cricket Australia to avoid playing Big Bash League final on Australia Day

Cricket Australia have ruled out playing the Big Bash League final on Australia Day this season, but have left the door open for games to be hosted on the public holiday in the future.

January 26 was shaping up to be the prime slot for the BBL 14 decider, but the organisation has shifted it one day later, claiming it was to avoid a clash with the Australian Open men’s tennis final on the same day.

They also chose not to schedule a women’s clash between Australia and England on Australia Day either, which will instead be played one day prior. The Australian men’s team will be out of the country for their two-Test tour of Sri Lanka at the time.

Cricket Australia faced significant backlash earlier this year when the final Test match of the 2023-24 summer against West Indies overlapped with Australia Day celebrations.

The Gabba announcer was originally ordered not to mention the January 26 celebrations, but the decision was overturned by public outrage.

A Cricket Australia spokesman said January 27 gave “as many fans as possible” the chance to “watch one of Australian sport’s great occasions.”

“We make our scheduling decisions based on the best interests of fans and do not rule out playing on any day in the future,” the spokesperson said.

Broadcaster Channel 7 backed the decision, with Fox Sports also understood to have been in support.

Australian women’s star and Muruwari woman Ashleigh Gardner has taken a firm stance against playing on Australia Day, saying she didn’t feel comfortable taking to the field on what is a “day of hurt’’ for many Indigenous Australians.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has also suggested that the country find a “more appropriate date’’ to celebrate Australia Day than January 26, which was the day the first fleet arrived in Australia in 1788.