BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC – West Indies will take the knee prior to the start of the opening Test against England starting in England yesterday, in a symbolic gesture of their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
They will kneel for 30 seconds at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton and will be joined by hosts England in a move that has now become an international symbol in the fight for racial justice.
Both teams will also sport the Black Lives Matter logo on their jerseys throughout the three-Test series, which is being played amid global protests following the police killing of an unarmed black man George Floyd, in the United States last May.
From the start of the tour, West Indies have made clear their support for the Black Lives Matter movement and on Tuesday, chairman of regional nation grouping CARICOM, Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves, hailed the touring side as “splendid examples of our Caribbean civilisation”.
“I want to wish the team all the best in the three Tests coming up,” said Gonsalves, also the chairman of the CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial subcommittee on cricket.
“I know that you are splendid examples of our Caribbean civilisation; you carry yourself very well beyond the boundary … and I’m so proud of you for taking that strong stand in favour of Black Lives Matter.
“On the field I expect you to do your best. I expect you to triumph but if you do not triumph, I expect that you will still make us very proud and more importantly, for you to conduct yourself and be consummate professionals in the long tradition of proven professional cricketers.”
Gonsalves, the St Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister and an ardent cricket fan, urged the Jason Holder-led unit to be inspired by the legacy of legendary West Indies batsman Sir Everton Weekes, who passed away last week at age 95.
“Remember when you go on the field Sir Everton Weekes … [who] rose to the highest heights of one of the most outstanding cricketers and human beings that the world has ever seen. Do this one for Everton.”
Head coach Phil Simmons said Monday there had been discussions in the camp about support for the Black Lives Matter movement, and what was the best way to express that solidarity.
However, the former Test all-rounder said it was important to understand that the support for racial justice was not limited to the current tour but was a part of their lives as black players.
“It means a hell of a lot to all the players and all the staff on the tour,” he pointed out.
“It is not something just about now, it’s about life on the whole and I don’t think we as a group need to say well look, ‘this is going to motivate us [now]’. It motivates us all the time. That’s a natural part of life.”
