[1] McKnight grew up on the family property at Ranfurly in Central Otago, where his father died in 1940 while mining for gold.
[2] He was educated at Otago Boys' High School in Dunedin and later farmed the property.
[4] He captained Central Otago against the touring Marylebone Cricket Club in 1960–61 at Alexandra, top-scoring with 48 in the second innings.
[5] He took part in a world tour with a New Zealand Cricket Council side in 1964, playing in 11 countries.
[6] McKnight was also a rugby union referee,[7] and represented New Zealand at curling.