Cricket Australia's push to stage a Big Bash League match on Christmas Day is meeting stiff resistance from players, who have formal powers to block its introduction.
The governing body has not scheduled a BBL game on the festive day this season but the head of the competition Anthony Everard said it is considering doing so for future editions of the tournament.
The Australian Cricketers Association is sceptical about the idea, issuing a statement on Friday expressing its concern at players not being able to spend the day with family and friends.
While CA is in the early stages of canvassing public opinion to gauge the level of demand for such a fixture, it's understood any match would be played at night.
CA could also schedule a derby between either the Melbourne or Sydney teams, which would alleviate players' concerns somewhat about being away from home for Christmas.
Christmas Day sport is a feature in the US, where fans are spoiled for choice with NBA and NFL, but it is a blank day on the Australian sporting calendar with no cricket, A-League or NBL available. The AFL broke with tradition this year by holding its first match on Good Friday, 24 years after the NRL.
CA and ACA discussed the topic this week at a meeting of the scheduling advisory group, which was formalised this year as part of the new pay deal.
There is a clause in the memorandum of understanding which states that domestic matches played on Christmas Day needs reasonable approval from the ACA.
"It's very much in the formative stages, in the early days," Everard said on Melbourne radio station SEN on Friday.
"There was a bit of discussion about it last year. We got a group together over the winter to consider all the different elements and perspectives.
"The key would be, it's not just about rolling out another game on another day. We would want to make it really special and would want to celebrate the Christmas tradition.
"We're keen to hear the feedback - we're going to undertake some more formal fan research over the season."
ACA chief Alastair Nicholson said players were supportive of innovation but wanted to spend Christmas with family.
The Australian Test side traditionally holds a light training session on Christmas Day while BBL teams drawn to play on Boxing Day usually travel on this day.
Melbourne Renegades star Aaron Finch voiced his displeasure in 2014 at having to spend a second consecutive Christmas Day flying to Perth for a Boxing Day game, labelling it a "joke".
"The evidence certainly supports the players' willingness to help grow the game, but we will need to further canvass the view of the player before this can be agreed," Nicholson said.
"Christmas day is important down time for players to spend with their family and friends. It is important that players, who spend much of their time travelling and playing the game they love, stay connected to their family and friends. Research tells us that this is important for player wellbeing."
National coach Darren Lehmann has questioned the merits of such a fixture.
"It's a family day, isn't it?" Lehmann said this week.
"It's a really tough one - I don't mind [games being held on] New Year's Eve [and] New Year's Day.
"But Christmas day, it's one of the few family days of the year, it's a really great day in the tradition of the family.
"It could work, I don't really know. People could vote on that one, maybe that's the way to go with it."
