Cricket Australia Drops Anthem From Jan. 26 BBL Final as Indigenous Consultation Shapes Plans
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Cricket Australia Drops Anthem From Jan. 26 BBL Final as Indigenous Consultation Shapes Plans
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 13
Summary
Cricket Australia does not currently plan to play "Advance Australia Fair" before the 2027 Big Bash League final, even though the championship match is being staged on Australia Day, Jan. 26.
The reported rationale is cultural sensitivity: the board is expected to work with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Committee on how the day should be handled.
The anthem could still be included if the host city specifically requests it, according to The Australian, making its use conditional rather than standard for the league's showpiece match.
The decision has already drawn public backlash, with a Herald Sun reader poll showing strong support for returning the final to Australia Day and for playing the national anthem.
The dispute reflects Australia’s broader tensions over Jan. 26, which many celebrate as a national holiday but some Indigenous groups criticize as a day tied to colonization.