Australian team to 'take a knee' for first time on home soil during West Indies series to tackle racism

During the upcoming Test series against the West Indies, Australian cricketers will take a knee on their home soil for the first time ever, so as to showcase their stand against racism. The anti-racism symbolic gesture will be undertaken during both of the Test matches, the first one in Perth followed by the next in Adelaide.

The West Indies tour of Australia consists of two Test matches. The first one is set to be played at the Perth Stadium starting November 30, followed by the second and final Test, a day-night game, which will be played from December 8 to December 12 at the Adelaide Oval.

“As we’ve done in the West Indies and during the recent warm-up games we will support the West Indies team and take a knee alongside them,” a spokesperson of Cricket Australia was quoted as saying by The West Australian.

“As a team, we'll continue to educate ourselves, provide support where possible, and create awareness for those who are victims of racial injustice, and/or discrimination in any form. We kneel alongside our West Indian friends to recognize and show our support of all those who have been victims of racial injustice and/or discrimination, past and present," the Australian team said in a statement last year.

Once you do the right thing you can go to bed feeling comfortable: Michael Holding

West Indies cricket legend Michael Holding praised the act of supporting their peers and told The Sunday Age that he was "extremely proud" of it.

“To those who talk about not mixing sport and politics, why did they not go and play in South Africa during apartheid? Once you do the right thing you can go to bed feeling comfortable and with nothing on your conscience,” Holding said.

Holding had previously called players "lame" for not taking a knee in 2020, criticizing Australia's anti-racism stance. Australia’s Aaron Finch had even revealed the reason behind not taking a knee, saying that the education around it was more important than the protest.

“It is a gesture to show people you care about an issue. It is not a protest. You are signaling your involvement in an issue and that you support the issue that people are fighting for. Simple as that,” Holding told the Sydney Morning Herald at the time.