Black Lives Matter: Players take the knee as delayed England-West Indies Test series starts
England's training shirts have carried the names of key workers ahead of the game, which is being played in a bio-secure bubble.
Wednesday 8 July 2020 18:37, UK
The England men's cricket team have taken the knee in support of Black Lives Matter before the first Test against West Indies in Southampton.
Players from both sides made the gesture at the Ageas Bowl before the long-awaited return of international cricket in a bio-secure bubble because of coronavirus.
The last Test, between New Zealand and India, ended on 2 March, six days before the conclusion of the Women's T20 World Cup.
England's last competitive outing was in Johannesburg on 27 January.
The three-match contest between the sides has been named the #raisethebat Series in honour of key workers all over the country who have helped tackle the pandemic.
England's players have been wearing training shirts carrying the names of individual key workers in the build-up to the match.
England captain Ben Stokes said: "We're only able to play this Test match because of the amazing job that key workers up and down the country have done to help us through this pandemic.
"Wearing their names is a real honour, a small sign of our appreciation for the incredible work they have done.
"They have truly gone in to bat for us all and it makes me proud of how the whole cricket family has responded to help us get through these unprecedented times," he added.
Dr Vikas Kumar, whose name featured on Ben Stokes's shirt, said: "The past four months have been very difficult, but it was a wonderful surprise to find out that Ben Stokes of all people is wearing my name on his training shirt.
"So many of my colleagues at work and at the cricket club have been working so hard and made big sacrifices, so this is for them as well."
Stokes is standing in for skipper Joe Root, absent for the birth of his second child.
The boundary boards on the perimeter of the pitch also carried the name of Sir Everton Weekes, the great Bajan batsman who died at the age of 95 last week.
England won the toss and decided to bat after the start was delayed by rain.