Cricket Australia may get the Australia Day “relaunch” it wasn’t necessarily asking for, with rain threatening to interrupt Sunday’s BBL final in Perth and possibly delaying the game for 24 hours. Optus Stadium will host the decider between the Scorchers and Sixers on Sunday night.
But importantly, the following evening – the Australia Day Monday – has been set aside should a reserve day be required in the event of the original date being washed out. Five overs per side are required to constitute a result in BBL fixtures.
The Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers will face off in the BBL final. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
(Cricket Australia via Getty Imag)
Cricket Australia has avoided staging games on Australia Day for the past two years but insist the decision is based on many factors – broadcasters’ preference for one – and not solely on opposition to the day itself. Leading Indigenous players Ash Gardner, Scott Boland and Jason Gillespie have previously voiced their opposition about playing cricket on a day of great pain for many First Nations peoples.
Gardner described Australia Day as a day of “hurt and a day of mourning”, while fast bowling great Gillespie called on the date to be changed to “a day in which all Australians can celebrate”. CA has engaged with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Group (NATSICAG) to guide its decision-making around Australia Day cricket.
Despite many fans being in favour of playing on the public holiday, there have been no major matches staged on January 26 for the past two summers following 29 consecutive years of Australia Day cricket. That could change if the BBL final is hit by rain, necessitating a 24-hour postponement.
Cricket Australia has scheduled Monday night (Australia Day) as a reserve day if the BBL final can’t be played on Sunday. Image: Cricket Australia
The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a 25 per cent chance of rain for Perth on Sunday. “The situation is there is a little cold front to come through and there’ll be a (rain) pulse during the day and then a second pulse through the evening,” a BOM spokesperson told Yahoo Sport Australia.
“The heaviest falls for whoever is unlucky enough to get them may be something like four or five millimetres. We can’t say for sure whether that will be right over the ground, but there’s certainly a risk for Sunday unfortunately.”
Cricket could be played on Australia Day after all
While the chances of the reserve day being used are remote, the mere fact Cricket Australia is prepared to revisit the idea of Australia Day cricket is a strong indicator it could return to the playing calendar in the near future.
Former Test keeper Ian Healy pointed out: “Some fans and some media have had a cynical dig at Cricket Australia for not scheduling cricket on Monday, January 26th because of the political hot potato it can become. (But) Cricket Australia are willing to play on Australia Day because it’s been scheduled as the (BBL) reserve day if required.”
In a recent statement on the subject, CA said: “We will play international or Big Bash matches on January 26 depending on the schedule each season. Cricket Australia will continue to collaborate with stakeholders and our advisory group NATSICAG to ensure all matches are delivered respectfully.”