WBBL 2020: Sydney Thunder To Take A Knee Throughout The Tournament

Rachael Haynes, the captain of Sydney Thunder, has said that her team will be taking a knee before the start of every game in the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) this year to show solidarity towards the Black Lives Matter movement. Sports personalities and teams have shown their support towards the movement after the horrific killing of George Floyd in America.

The WBBL started on Sunday. Sydney Thunder’s first match was against Syndey Sixers which was washed out after the toss had happened. The Sixers had won the toss and elected to field first, however, rain played spoilsport and the game was abandoned.

Players have indicated they want us to take a knee: Rachael Haynes

All teams have committed to perform the Indigenous Barefoot Circle ceremony ahead of matches during the tournament, as per an ESPNcricinfo report. However, the decision over whether to take the knee in support of Black Lives Matter was given to the respective teams.

Sydney Thunder captain Rachael Haynes said that they made a unanimous decision to take the knee before the first ball of every match is bowled. She said that it was the players who indicated it. She said with the global audience of the tournament watching, their message would be widespread. They are absolutely committed to the stand against racism.

“Essentially, the players have indicated they want us to take a knee in support of the stance against racism.”

“This is a tournament that attracts international players and is viewed all over the world, and we want to show we’re absolutely committed in our stance against racism,” she said.

Post the resumption of cricket in the pandemic era, the knee was taken in the England- West Indies series and then in the England-Ireland series as well. Players like Kagiso Rabada and Jason Holder have been very vocal in their support of the Black Lives Matter movement.

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