The Australian men’s cricket team has taken a knee in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement for the first time on home soil, making the gesture alongside the West Indies before the series opener at Perth Stadium on Wednesday.
The West Australian crowd applauded the players following the anti-racism gesture, which took place moments before the first delivery of the morning.
Last year, the Australian one-day team took a knee before white-ball matches against the West Indies in the Caribbean, but Wednesday’s act of solidarity was a first for the Test team.
Both sides also participated in a Barefoot Circle, a mark of respect to First Nations people, before the toss in Perth.
The West Indies have taken a knee before all international fixtures since 2020.
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Speaking to reporters in Perth on Tuesday, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins brushed off accusations he and the Australian cricket team was “too woke”.
“In this position you‘re always going upset people, whether you do something or you don’t do something,” Cummins said.
“That‘s fine. I kind of know what I signed up for. I also think we’re cricket players but you can’t leave your values at the door.
“People stand for different things, and something like taking a knee this week we‘re doing it out of respect for the West Indies, in support of equality.
“Anyone who says that‘s a bad thing, I’m not too bothered about.
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“We’ve done it in different formats over the last two years. We obviously took the knee against them in the T20 series.
“So it‘s not new. It’s something all the boys really respect and support. So hopefully chat to him and we’ll do a barefoot circle here as well as our way to acknowledge the Indigenous land.”
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West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite praised Cummins and the Australian team for their support.
“It’s good to know that Australia is taking part,” he said.
“Obviously it means a lot to us, seeing what’s going on around the world. So obviously we appreciate that, it means a lot to us.”
Australian spinner Adam Zampa said he was proud of Cummins and his teammates expressing their personal beliefs.
“The same people that say (to be quiet) are always the ones telling us to try and not be vanilla as well,” he told SEN 1170 Breakfast on Wednesday.
“We have certain beliefs and if we’re asked about it, we will tell the truth.
“I think Pat nailed it on the head yesterday. He’s obviously copped quite a lot in the media.
“He’s not the guy who will back down and then change his values because of what a few people will comment on their Facebook pages about it.”
