Female star in Oz Day blast

INDIGENOUS women’s star Ashleigh Gardner has called out Cricket Australia for scheduling a women’s international on January 26.

Gardner indicates she will still play for Australia against Pakistan on Thursday in Hobart, but has made it clear she disagrees with the national team being scheduled to play on what she says is a day of mourning for Aboriginal people.

“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 writes on Twitter.

“My culture is something I hold close to my heart and something I’m always so proud to speak about whenever asked.

“I also am fortunate enough to play cricket for a living, which is something I dreamt of as a kid. Unfortunately this year the Australian women’s cricket team has been scheduled to play a game on the 26th of Jan, which certainly doesn’t sit well with me as an individual but also all the people I’m representing.”

Cricket Australia has chosen not to schedule any Big Bash League games on January 26 this year and won’t refer to the day as Australia Day in any marketing of the women’s T20 game in Hobart on Thursday evening.

According to Gardner, it’s inappropriate for the team to be playing.

However, she indicated she would still play the match and would try to use the platform to educate people on why it’s a painful day for Aboriginal Australians.

“As a national team we have a platform to raise awareness about certain issues and I’m using this platform to hopefully help educate others on a journey to learn about the longest living culture in the world,” Gardner said.

“For those who don’t have a good understanding of what that day means it was the beginning of genocide, massacres and dispossession.”