Cricket Australia's incoming CEO says the sports governing body will commemorate January 26 in future, after the organisation decided against referencing the national public holiday earlier this year.
Although no international cricket is scheduled for January 26 next year due to a clash with the Australian Open, newly-appointed Cricket Australia (CA) chief executive, Todd Greenberg, says cricket will be played on the day in future, with CA set to acknowledge it.
"The cricket Australia board has spoken about it and they will playing matches in the future on Australia Day, but they do understand that we will need to do that respectfully and consult the right people and the right groups," Mr Greenberg told 2GB breakfast host Ben Fordham.
"My personal view on this is that I've loved Australia Day since I was a kid, but when you reflect on history and listen to other people's views you can appreciate it is a difficult day for some people.
"So, we have to respect that, but ultimately I think what you'll see going forward is that if there's opportunities to play cricket on Australia Day we will be - we will just do it respectfully."
Mr Fordham questioned Mr Greenberg's meaning of 'respectfully', suggesting some Australians feel like they aren't allowed to celebrate on January 26.
"Oh, no, we will be celebrating it, absolutely," Greenberg said in response.
"For those who who want to celebrate it, they are more than welcome to - and a day at the cricket is probably the best way to do it.
"When I say 'respectfully', it's just making sure that we understand that the day means different things to different people. And making sure we find a balance there."
Earlier this year Cricket Australia facilitated a limited acknowledgement of January 26 at the Gabba Test between Australia and the West Indies by not referencing the public holidays as 'Australia Day', with then CA chief executive, Nick Hockley imploring the organisation was "not boycotting Australia Day".
The following day, anti-Australia Day protesters demonstrated outside the ground, causing a delay.
Prior to the Test, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins backed calls for the date of the national public holiday to be changed, a perspective supported by Steve Smith.
Last month CA sidestepped its reasoning for not scheduling domestic matches on January 26 next year, with a spokesperson saying January 27 had been determined the best day to host the BBL|14 Final.
Muruwari allrounder Ash Gardner has previously described January 26 as a day of "hurt and morning" saying "it's probably not overly appropriate" to schedule Test cricket on January 26, a perspective shared by Gulidjan seamer Scott Boland.
Last year former Australian quick and Kamilaroi man Jason Gillespie backed moving the annual public holiday away from January 26.
