'We can probably find more appropriate date to celebrate' - Pat Cummins expresses reservation on Australia Day talk

Australia's captain, Pat Cummins, has voiced his belief that January 26 is an inappropriate date for celebrating Australia Day. He urged the government to choose a "more appropriate" day. He expressed his long-standing view just hours after Cricket Australia's CEO, Nick Hockley, emphasized that the sport was not boycotting Australia Day. While Cummins supported CA's stance, he made it clear that he disagreed with the chosen date. 

The upcoming second Test against the West Indies in Brisbane will see limited mention of "Australia Day," triggering some criticism. Indigenous players Scott Boland and Ash Gardner, both expressed reservations about playing on this date, which influenced CA's decision, guided by advice from its Indigenous advisory board NATSICAC during scheduling and commemorations planning.

“This conversation comes up every year and Cricket Australia have been pretty consistent over the last four or five years. My personal opinion is I absolutely love Australia and think it is the best country in the world by a mile. I think we should have an Australia Day, but I think we can probably find a more appropriate date to celebrate,” Cummins said as quoted by Fox Cricket.

“Knowing a couple of those players that you mentioned (Boland and Gardner), you hear the stories and their feelings. I think in particular with a sport like cricket which has such diversity and millions of people following it and supporting and playing it you get a good spectrum and a good feel of what the community kind of expects. I think we’re all in unison, we absolutely love Australia and feel really lucky and privileged to be here in this country, but it is a delicate one,” he added.

Australia look to extend their undisputed summer 

Australia are set to enter Brisbane with the aim of securing a flawless summer, triumphing in their previous four Test matches at home against Pakistan and the West Indies. Following a clean sweep against Pakistan, the Aussies have already secured the Frank Worrell Trophy, dominating the Windies in a three-day encounter in Adelaide last week. Their impressive form on home soil positions them as formidable contenders as they look to continue their winning streak in the upcoming Test.