SOUTHAMPTON, July 8: England and West Indies players took a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement before the start of play in the first Test at Southampton as international cricket returned after a four-month absence.
Moments before the first ball was bowled at an empty Rose Bowl, West Indies� fielding players knelt in the outfield while their England counterparts did the same around the field.
A Black Lives Matter logo also was on the collar of the Test shirts worn by players from both teams for the match played in a strict isolated environment and following repeated testing of players and staff members.
The West Indies squad has said the movement, which has grown since the killing of George Floyd in the United States in May, has been a source of motivation on this tour.
The kneeling gesture has been made before Premier League matches since the resumption of soccer in England last month.
There was a minute�s silence in honour of those who died in the coronavirus pandemic and also West Indies great Everton Weekes, who died last week.
Play was starting after a three-hour delay because of light rain and a wet outfield. There can be a maximum of 70 overs on the rain-affected first day. It meant cricket fans had to wait a while longer for the return of international cricket since the last action in early March.
England�s stand-in captain, Ben Stokes, won the toss and opted to bat under overcast skies. � AP
