Ben Dunk reveals not taking a knee for BLM his biggest regret in cricket

Ben Dunk was labelled a racist when he chose not to take a knee in support of the BLM movement during a Big Bash game. He says the decision was selfish and wrong.

Big Bash star Ben Dunk has revealed not taking a knee is the biggest regret of his career, as he expressed empathy for South Africa’s Quinton de Kock.

Dunk was heavily spotlighted during last summer’s BBL for choosing to stand with a bowed head while teammates and opponents knelt.

The 34-year-old didn’t intend offence, but has reflected deeply on his decision and says he will one day tell his young children he made a mistake by not showing the proper support for the Black Lives Matter protest.

Dunk admits the profound hurt of being labelled a racist on social media contributed to him suddenly quitting the Melbourne Stars mid-season, and says the emotional apology of South African de Kock struck a chord with his own realisations on cricket’s most controversial issue.

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“Rather than bow my head, which I did, the right thing to do was to support the movement. I was naive at the time to think that it wouldn’t make a huge difference,” a raw and honest Dunk told News Corp.

“As we’ve seen 12 months on, there’s a fair bit of hurt that’s involved around this issue and when you have the opportunity to do the right thing and you don’t do it – and it is the right thing, to make a stand against racism. It’s a no-brainer.

“Unfortunately I had tunnel vision and was quite selfish and self-absorbed in trying to keep my career alive and naive to think that me doing that wouldn’t make a difference and naive to not have realised the conversation would quickly shift … to who is taking a knee and who is not.

“It’s one of the biggest regrets of my career, and I don’t say that lightly given I’ve had some poor performances that have caused people to lose their jobs who are close to me. Good people, good coaches have lost their jobs due to underperforming players like myself. To call it my biggest regret, I’m not overstating that.”

Ben Dunk stands while players take a knee before a BBL match.

Dunk hesitated on whether he wanted to speak out on the issue after a week of conjecture around de Kock, but believes it’s right to set an example for his children and future Australian cricketers.

“The reality is that you’re not always going to get it right and I didn’t get it right that time unfortunately. At some stage I’ll explain to my children why I didn’t get it right,” said Dunk.

“(Our job) is to make sure the next generation doesn’t make the same mistakes as the current generation is making. So as a father that’s important.”

While there were other Melbourne Stars players who chose not to take a knee, Dunk as the wicketkeeper became the focus for TV cameras, which captured the stark contrast of him standing next to kneeling batsmen and fielders.

“The information we were given was you can show your support in any way that you want. And so in my mind at the time, me standing and bowing my head was me showing my support for the movement,” he said.

“But (when everyone else around you is kneeling), it’s a pretty polarising kind of picture.”

Ben Dunk says he was shattered to be called a racist.

Dunk, the son of a banana farmer in north Queensland, was crushed by accusations he was racist to the point where it was a factor in his shock call to quit the Stars mid-season.

“When you’re labelled a racist, I don’t think there’s many worse things you can be labelled,” said Dunk, who on that level empathised with South African star, de Kock.

“When you’re portrayed in a light that you know deep down isn’t you, it does cause you to reflect and when you start diving into something like this you realise you have obviously acted in a way that’s enabled people to make that assumption.

“I wouldn’t say it had an impact on my form but as a person it certainly did because … you really question yourself and what you’re trying to do and how important it is.

“My parents have always told me, ‘it’s just a game it’s just a game.’ But as an athlete when your livelihood is wrapped up in it, you do feel like it’s more than a game and therefore your focus shifts away from what is actually important, and that was setting a good example.

Ben Dunk left the Stars midway through last season but is open to a BBL return.

“We are pretty quick to judge and assume the worst if someone doesn’t do what is expected of them or what is the norm without knowing the full details, which is what’s realistically happened in my opinion with de Kock. I thought his statement was spot on. I thought he handled it really well.”

Dunk – who is open to returning to the Big Bash again this summer if given an opportunity – said broadcasters could do more to support the vision of players taking a knee with on-screen education.

“It was probably 50-50 in terms of people that were supportive of me not taking a knee, and I’m not sure whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing either,” said Dunk.

“It probably shows we have a long way to go as a country in terms of building that bridge or moving closer to eradicating racism.”