Steve Smith, the former Australian captain, stated that January 26 should not be celebrated as Australia Day.
“I’ve just spoken to Scott Boland about this just the other day and as Australians you want all Australians to celebrate that day,” he said
Following the comments by teammate and fellow Australian cricketer, Cummins, Smith suggested that the government should change the date of Australia Day to make it more appropriate.
The decision by Cricket Australia to not associate certain matches with Australia Day has caused a controversy. The organization will only refer to the holiday as “Australia Day” during the second Test against the West Indies, which will be held in Brisbane. Both Ash Gardner and Scott Boland, who are Indigenous players, had reservations about participating on the day. CA consulted the NATSICAC advisory board before making its decision.
Despite his opinion on the issue, Cummins said he was still happy with Cricket Australia’s decision. He noted that the organization has been consistent in its approach regarding the issue.
Although he supports the concept of Australia Day, he noted that it should be celebrated in a more appropriate manner. He also said that he knew the sentiments of the individuals who were affected by the decision, such as Gardner and Boland.
Due to the wide variety of people who support and participate in cricket, he said that he had a good understanding of the community’s expectations regarding Australia Day. He also noted that he had to take time to think about his own position.