Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins has called for the the date of Australia Day to be changed.
The Test captain said January 26 was the wrong date to celebrate Australia Day and urged the government to change it to a ‘more appropriate date’.
On Tuesday, Cummins told a Brisbane press conference for Cricket for Climate – which has installed solar panels at the National Cricket Centre – that he has held his view for ‘a while’.
‘This conversation comes up every year and Cricket Australia have been pretty consistent over the last four or five years,’ Cummins said.
‘My personal opinion is I absolutely love Australia, it’s the best country in the world by a mile. And I think we should have an Australia Day.
Australia cricket captain Pat Cummins (pictured) has called for the the date of Australia Day to be changed
‘But I think we can probably find a more appropriate day to celebrate it. ‘It’s a tough day, it means different things to different people,’ he added.
Cummins said his view on the date of Australia Day was influenced by the diverse cricket community.
‘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,’ Cummins said.
‘So, knowing a couple of those players … you hear the stories and their feelings and it does gather extra importance.
‘We absolutely love Australia and feel really lucky and privileged to be here in this country but it is a delicate one.
‘Once you start realising Jan 26 and why it’s chosen, Australia Day has been a bit of celebration of everything in our history and I think we could find a better day.’
More to come
