Ash Gardner criticizes Cricket Australia for scheduling match on January 26, Meg Lanning & Co. extends support

"For those who don't have a good understanding of what that day means it was a beginning of genocide, massacres, and dispossession," Ash Gardner.

Ash Gardner criticizes Cricket Australia for scheduling match on January 26, Meg Lanning & Co. extends support

Ash Gardner

Australia women’s team skipper Meg Lanning and her team support Indigenous star Ashleigh Gardner for her criticism of playing on January 26. Australia are set to lock horns on this day against Pakistan in Hobart for the second T20I. 

Gardener, a Muruwari woman, has criticized Cricket Australia for scheduling a match on Australia Day. “As a proud Muruwari woman and reflecting on what Jan 26 means to me and my people it is a day of hurt and a day of mourning,” Gardner posted on social media on Sunday.

In 1788, the British’s First fleet arrived at Sydney Cove, which is a day of “hurt and a day of mourning” for Indigenous people. “For those who don’t have a good understanding of what that day means it was a beginning of genocide, massacres, and dispossession.” For this post, she was heavily criticized. 

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Aussie players are set to perform a ceremony before the match on January 26

January 26 Ash Gardner
Ash Gardner

Previously, the second T20I was supposed to be held on January 27 in Canberra, but South Africa abandoned their ODI series last year due to a clash with their inaugural SA20 League. After a reschedule, January 26th was chosen for the match. 

When they were told about playing on January 26, the team started raising awareness of the issue a couple of months ago. Gardner said she will available for selection for the second T20I against Pakistan, but will use her position to educate people on the significance of Australia Day. 

As per reports, the Aussie players will wear an indigenous jersey, wristbands, and socks with indigenous colors in the Hobart match. They will perform a ceremony by walking around the local mountain Kunanyi to educate themselves and others more about the local community before the match. 

“It’s something that we can’t control in terms of the scheduling and playing on that day,” Aussie skipper Meg Lanning said, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo. “But something we would like to do is acknowledge the sadness and grief that day brings for First Nations people.”

Gardner is one of the four Indegenous cricketers who have represented the national side in Tests. The three other players are Faith Thomas, Jason Gillespie, and Scott Boland. 

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