August 08, 2019

Cricket Australia has today announced the direction for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in elite and community cricket.

Commencing consultation with key stakeholders in October 2018, Cricket Australia has developed an Elite Cricket Policy and Guidelines for Community Cricket to support players electing to participate in cricket in line with their gender identity, whether or not this aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.

At a starting point, the Elite Cricket Policy aligns closely with the International Cricket Council’s Eligibility on the Basis of Gender Recognition and provides transgender and gender diverse cricketers guidance on how they can compete at the highest levels of the sport, consistent with their gender identity. As an additional measure, a referral process to an Expert Panel has been established to ensure fair and meaningful competition.

The Guidelines for Community Cricket will assist clubs, players, administrators, coaches and other volunteers deliver a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment, free of harassment and discrimination for gender diverse players at the game’s grassroots.

Kevin Roberts, CEO of Cricket Australia said: 

“It doesn’t make any sense that today, people are discriminated against, harassed or excluded, because of who they are. And that’s not right. 

“Today we demonstrate our commitment to include people with an affirmed gender identity in the game at every level and ensure all people in our communities experience Australian cricket’s inclusive culture.

“As strength, stamina and physique are all relevant factors when competing in competitive sport, transgender and gender diverse players will be supported to participate in elite cricket, subject to certain criteria through the implementation of this policy.

“Our dedication to a fair and inclusive sport across international and domestic competitions sees the policy strike a balance between the opportunity to participate and ensuring fair competition.

“From a community cricket level, the guidelines provide robust guidance for clubs and associations to encourage the participation of transgender and gender diverse players and support frameworks for people who are subject to any form of harassment or discrimination on the basis of their sex or gender identity.

“Discrimination of any sort has no place in the game and all of Australian Cricket is driven to ensure all cricketers can participate in a harassment-free environment.”

Megan Schutt, Australian cricketer said:

“Inclusion matters in every sense. Cricket Australia's vision is to be a sport for all, so everyone deserves to be included.

“To have a policy and guidelines that includes transgender and gender diverse players will create a better environment for everybody to play the game.

“Now that we know that anyone who is transgender or gender diverse has a chance to play cricket at the highest level - and rightfully so - I'm confident that the elite cricket policy will provide a fair process for transgender and gender diverse cricketers to embark on that pathway.”

• The policy for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse players in Elite Cricket can be found here
• The guidelines for inclusion of transgender and gender diverse players in Community Cricket can be found here
• Watch the video of Alex Blackwell (Australian Cricketer and former Australian Captain) and Erica James (transgender cricketer from Universities Women’s Cricket Club in Sydney, NSW) explaining the Elite Cricket Policy and Community Cricket Guidelines

ENDS

For further information contact:
Phil Smith
CA Communications
+61 457 571 972