Take a knee if you want, but forcing cricketers to do it is pointless

Quinton de Kock was forced into a backflip on taking the knee because token gestures are apparently now a condition of employment.

There is something seriously wrong with world sport when you have to partake in a tokenistic political gesture in order to play.

What does it actually mean to get down on one knee to signal that you oppose racism if you are forced to do it?

This is, of course, what happened to South African batsman and wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who pulled out of a T20 World Cup match against the West Indies after his bosses told him he had to take the knee before the game.

De Kock, who has black family, did not want to partake in such tokenistic nonsense, decided not to play.

Some will now say de Kock has gone soft after he signalled he would take the knee in future in order to play again.

But what other choice did he have? If he wants to do his job and earn an income, this is apparently now a condition of employment.

Quinton de Kock was forced out of the T20 World Cup after being told he had to take a knee. Picture: Getty Images

Which is exactly the issue.

If one is forced to make a gesture to prove to the world that they are anti-racist, then the gesture has lost all meaning.

It doesn’t come from a place of genuine concern – it comes from a place of performative virtue signalling.

How much have those who continually get down on one knee actually physically done to fix racism?

It is so easy to take a knee on a cricket pitch and act like a complete racist pillock in private.

But the important thing is that you made the mandated gesture.

De Kock said this himself.

“For me, black lives have mattered since I was born — not just because there was an international movement,” he said in a statement.

The South African players take the knee ahead of their T20 World Cup match. Picture: Getty Images

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma, pictured with de Kock behind the stumps, takes a knee before a warmup game against Pakistan ahead of the T20 World Cup. Picture: Getty

“I didn’t understand why I had to prove it with a gesture when I live and learn and love people from all walks of life every day.

“When you are told what to do, with no discussion, I felt like it takes away the meaning. If I was racist, I could easily have taken the knee and lied, which is wrong and doesn’t build a better society.”

Taking the knee is a practice that esteemed US Supreme Court justice and darling of the Left, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg, described as “dumb and disrespectful”.

Not taking the knee does not make one racist. Far from it. It just means you don’t feel the need to prove your virtue to the world.

Why are there no performative gestures for sportsmen to prove that they aren’t homophobic or sexist?

Are we to assume that they are because they don’t put their hands on their heads and stomach and rub them anticlockwise at the same time?

Sport, for most people, is an escape from the rest of the world’s troubles.

Cricketers and other sporting professionals undoubtedly are role models and have a large platform by virtue of their popularity. They can sometimes use that platform to raise issues dear to their heart.

But taking the knee by force is hollow and meaningless.

In this case, it has divided — not united.