Pat Cummins defends Test team’s Black Lives Matter gesture ahead of opening Test

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins says his team will continue to make their voices heard on societal issues after coming after criticism that he is a “woke” captain.

Pat Cummins has responded to accusations he’s a “woke” Australian captain and defended his team’s right to take a knee against the West Indies.

Cummins wrongly wore the blame for Alinta Energy walking away from its $40 million sponsorship of Cricket Australia and as a result has inadvertently become embroiled in the culture wars which have even attempted to use Justin Langer’s explosive demise as a battleground.

On social media, Cummins has been a lightning rod for criticism over his respect for climate change science and taking a knee in support of Black Lives Matter.

Cummins on Tuesday was asked to address the perception he is “too woke” and that he should simply “stick to cricket” as the keyboard warriors argue.

“In this position you‘re always going upset people, whether you do something or you don’t do something,” said Cummins.

“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.“

Australia has taken the knee in support of Black Lives Matter on multiple occasions before in white ball cricket, but on Wednesday will recognise the movement for the first time in a Test match.

Australia and India take part in a barefoot ceremony in support of Black Lives Matter before a One-Day International match in 2020. Picture: Brett Costello

The significance of the gesture has been welcomed by West Indian legend Michael Holding.

“I don’t care about the politics behind Black Lives Matter. I care about those three words: black lives matter,” Holding said two years ago when an Australian team had decided no to take the knee.

“It is time for the world to accept that black lives matter and move towards that agreement and realisation.”

Cummins will speak to West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite about Australia’s intention to take a knee and also participate in a barefoot circle to respect Aboriginal people.

Brathwaite praised Cummins for his stance.

“It’s good to know that Australia is taking part. 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.”

“We’ve done it in different formats over the last two years. We obviously took the knee against them in the T20 series (recently before the World Cup),” said Cummins.

Pat Cummins and Kraigg Braithwaite with the Frank Worrell trophy ahead of the first Test match in Perth. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

“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.”

Cricket Australia and Cummins have both denied that ethical concerns he raised with chief executive Nick Hockley about the Alinta sponsorship earlier this year had anything to do with the lucrative sponsorship coming to an end.

Cummins will not appear on Alinta advertisements this summer, but that is because his contractual obligations with the energy company have already been satisfied, after he agreed to shoot an extra year for them last year than what he was required.

The Australian captain has spearheaded a push among a fleet of star players including David Warner, Josh Hazlewood, Marnus Labuschagne, Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes and Moises Henriques to install solar panels at local cricket clubs across the country.