Australian team to form 'barefoot circle' during series against India to support anti-racism

India and Australia would lock horns during a complete tour by the former, Down Under. The sides would be playing three ODIs and T20Is each, along with four Tests. Meanwhile, measures are also being taken to promote a campaign in support of anti-racism.

India's tour of Australia is fast gathering pace, as the sides are looking forward to a challenging tour and series ahead. Also, this would mark India's first international series in the pandemic, besides being Australia's second at home.

While most of the cricketing action came to a halt this year, the resumption of the sport in England initially had seen players taking a stand for the anti-racism campaign, in support of Black Lives Matter. Nonetheless, not every cricketing board abided by it.

As for India, the just-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), too, did not see any such campaign. Nonetheless, it is all set to be a part of India's upcoming tour of Australia, as the Australian team would form a barefoot circle throughout the India series, to acknowledge the indigenous culture of Australia.

"We've decided to do the Barefoot Circle. We're going to look at doing it at the start of each series and it's a pretty easy decision for us. Not only as a sport but we as people are absolutely against racism. We can probably put our hands up and say we haven't done enough in the past and we want to get better, so this is one small thing we're going to introduce this summer," Cummins told ESPNCricinfo.

"I think the most obvious one was in Australia; we think the most marginalised group is the First Nations people and Indigenous peoples, and we think the Barefoot Circle's a great way to celebrate them. Some people might want to take the knee, some people might want to show it in different ways, and absolutely, we're all for that, but we've come together as a team and think this is the best way we can demonstrate anti-racism, as well as celebrating indigenous culture here," added Cummins.

"(It's) empowering anyone to make a certain demonstration, whether it's taking a knee or whatever it is, we'll 100% support them in that. It all boils down to the idea racism exists and we want to do our bit to help stop that and try to be better. Everyone's absolutely on board with the Barefoot Circle and I'm not sure anyone will take it any further than that," Cummins further asserted.

Cricket Australia has taken the Barefoot Circle broadly to connect with the Aboriginal culture of the land Down Under. It was in September when the Australia women's cricketers, too, had formed a similar circle with New Zealand players during their limited-overs campaign.