Australia’s test cricketers will make an anti-racism statement by forming a barefoot circle ahead of the summer’s first One Day International against India.
Important points:
- Pat Cummins Says “The Barefoot Circle Is A Great Way To Celebrate Indigenous People”
- The great Michael Holding from the West Indies criticized the Australian team for not taking a knee at the beginning of the year
- The Australian women’s team stood barefoot in a circle before the last series against New Zealand
Test Vice-Captain Pat Cummins said the team had decided to join the “barefoot circle” to recognize the global movement in sport against racism.
“In Australia, we think the most marginalized group is the First Nations and the indigenous peoples. And we think the barefoot circle is a great way to celebrate them,” said Cummins.
The Australian women’s team stood barefoot in a circle ahead of the latest series against New Zealand to recognize indigenous culture.
The Sheffield Shield and WBBL teams performed the gesture during NAIDOC week on the final round.
Cummins said the team had spent several months discussing issues related to racism, including the possibility of players taking a knee – a gesture of protest that has become synonymous with the Black Lives Matter movement – but stand by as a group declares to take over the barefoot circle.
“I think some people might want to take the knee, others might want to show it off [their stance against racism] in a different way, and we absolutely are all for it, “he said.
“Naturally [we are] empower anyone when they are really strong about a particular demonstration. Regardless of whether it’s a knee or whatever, we will support you 100 percent.
“But we come together as a team and we think this is the best way to demonstrate anti-racism and celebrate indigenous culture here.”
“I thought last week’s NAIDOC week at Sheffield Shield was a pretty powerful opening day. And of course at the WBBL [we are] They have a lot of great acts there too, “said Cummins.
The Australian team has been criticized by West Indies’ great Michael Holding for failing to take a knee during the Test series against England earlier this year.
“Once you try to learn about it it becomes a really easy decision – not just as a sport, but as us humans – [to be] absolutely against racism.
“We will also try to work a lot on our education. We will try to learn as much as possible about our history here in Australia, especially in the future.”
The first One Day International against India will take place in Sydney on November 27th.
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