Cricket Australia launches inclusive policy for transgender players

In a path-breaking decision to herald inclusiveness, Cricket Australia released an elite-level policy supporting transgender and gender-diverse players to play cricket at the highest level in Australia on Wednesday, August 7th. The sport's national governing body also implied guidelines for community cricket to ensure effective grassroots implementation.

In a promotional video posted on Twitter yesterday by Cricket Australia, Erica James, a transgender cricketer, announced the revolutionary development. James said,

"The moment I realized I could play in a team of women like me I was so surprised and so happy. Because of these guidelines, gender diverse people can play a sport that we love without feeling like we're an imposter."

Australian cricketer Megan Schutt, who is one of the biggest representatives of the LGBTQ community and recently married partner Jess Holyoake, welcomed the move.

"To have a policy and guidelines that include 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."

Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts stressed the importance of providing a fair and meaningful competition to gender-diversified athletes, which in his opinion could only be achieved by setting a benchmark for testosterone levels.

“There’s an overarching spirit of inclusion. Discrimination and harassment of any sort has no place in the game.

“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.”

The ingenious move has received appreciation from cricketers and associations alike.

We're proud to support Cricket Australia on the launch of their new trans and gender diverse governance, to support those playing and wishing to play cricket in Australia. Cricket Australia are members of the #PrideInSport Program. 🏳️‍🌈🏏Read: https://t.co/kt1BoESdbi pic.twitter.com/Ku3GKTYcKc

— Pride in Sport Australia (@PrideinSportAU) August 7, 2019

ACA Statement on @CricketAus transgender and gender diverse inclusion policies:The ACA welcomes CA’s announcement today of its guidelines for inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in community cricket [1/4]

— Aust Cricketers Assn (@ACA_Players) August 8, 2019

🏳️‍🌈 The Sydney Sixers have today thrown their support behind Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW’s announcement on a direction for the inclusion of transgender and gender diverse people in elite and community cricket.Details here > https://t.co/GsYYD7l42F#smashemsixers pic.twitter.com/7vxYMOXGri

— Sydney Sixers (@SixersBBL) August 7, 2019

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