The England cricket staff took to the return of Test matches — with the first Test vs New Zealand at Lord’s starting on Wednesday — with a particular message in opposition to all types of discrimination.
A second of unity was held earlier than play on Day 1, with the England gamers sporting messages in opposition to any racism, spiritual intolerance, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and ageism in cricket.
We return to worldwide cricket with a strong message.
Cricket is a sport for ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ 🏏 pic.twitter.com/lDkTS215jy
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 2, 2021
It had been reported final week that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had additionally given the England gamers permission to take a knee earlier than the Test. “Like all of us, they feel very strongly about all discrimination,” Ashley Giles, director of cricket, ECB, had instructed Daily Mail.
FOLLOW LIVE | England vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 1
Former West Indies cricketer Michael Holding had criticised England final yr for not taking a knee in two collection in opposition to Pakistan and Australia after having began the apply in a earlier collection involving West Indies. “Now that the West Indies team has gone home, that doesn’t mean that you still shouldn’t be respecting the message and exactly what it stands for,” he had mentioned on his YouTube channel.
Batting first after profitable the toss, New Zealand openers Devon Conway and Tom Latham took the guests to the primary drinks break with out fall of wickets.