[ad_1]
International cricket resumed after a four-month coronavirus shut down on Wednesday as England and West Indies gamers took a knee in help of the Black Lives Matter motion underneath gray skies in Southampton. England stand-in captain Ben Stokes received the toss following a rain delay and opted to bat however simply three overs had been potential earlier than the climate intervened once more. The gamers gathered in a semi-circle on the pitch earlier than play began to look at a minute’s silence in reminiscence of the victims of the coronavirus and West Indies nice Everton Weekes, who died final week on the age of 95.
They then dropped to at least one knee in help of the worldwide marketing campaign in opposition to racial injustice following the dying within the United States of George Floyd in May.
Both groups are carrying BLM logos on their shirts throughout the three-match sequence.
West Indies gamers additionally wore black gloves on their proper palms in an echo of the “Black Power” protests made well-known by US athletes on the 1968 Mexico City Olympics.
Closed doorways
All three Tests are going down behind closed doorways, with the primary on the Ageas Bowl and the second two at Old Trafford.
The morning was misplaced to rain and when play finally began, England misplaced Dom Sibley off the 10th ball, when he was bowled by Shannon Gabriel.
England had been 1-1 when rain stopped play. They got here again for seven balls and scored two extra runs earlier than rain stopped play for a second time.
Stokes, standing in for Joe Root, who’s lacking the primary Test as a result of start of his second youngster, spoke of the joy forward of the restart of cricket.
“I know everybody has been craving this, certainly from a players’ point of view but I also think from a spectators’ and fans’ view,” he mentioned on Tuesday. “This is a massive occasion for a lot of people.”
But the skipper mentioned the dearth of a crowd was no purpose for England to let their requirements slip.
“We know we have that responsibility on our shoulders, to go out and do justice for all those people,” he mentioned.
Players and officers are staying at on-site inns to cease the unfold of COVID-19 and bowlers usually are not allowed to make use of saliva to shine the ball as a part of strict measures to manage the unfold of coronavirus.
West Indies coach Phil Simmons praised English directors for staging the sequence.
“It’s a huge blueprint for how cricket can move forward,” mentioned Simmons, whose aspect quarantined and skilled at Old Trafford from June 9 earlier than travelling south.
“We’re about to show that other places can start putting things together. The England and Wales Cricket Board have to be commended for all the work they have done to get the series on the road and let’s see what other countries take from it.”
England overlooked veteran paceman Stuart Broad, their second most profitable Test bowler behind James Anderson, who did begin, in addition to Chris Woakes.
Promoted
West Indies omitted specialist spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, with batsman Roston Chase to offer some gradual bowling in help of a four-man tempo assault of Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and captain Jason Holder.
West Indies haven’t received a Test sequence in England since 1988, however they maintain the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 sequence win within the Caribbean final yr.
Topics talked about on this article
[ad_2]
Source link