Australia was the first nation to kneel in support of Black Lives Matter Movement during the T20I against West Indies. Before the match began, players from both sides made the gesture. Cricket Australia released the following statement: “As a team, we’ll continue education, provide support wherever possible, and create awareness about those who are victims racial injustice and/or discrimination of any form.”
“We stand alongside our West Indian friends and offer our support to all who have suffered racial discrimination and/or injustice, past and present.”
Keiron Pollard, West Indies skipper, had earlier stated that he didn’t want opposition teams to kneel “because the West Indies do it”.
The veteran all-rounder stated that “it’s very important to me, but it’s one in which I don’t want teams (teams), to just say “we are doing this because you guys are in this””.
It is important to learn about the subject and to know what you are doing. We don’t want to do it alone and need your support. We are looking for that sympathy.
It’s one issue that we hold dearly. Pollard said that there is a lot of social injustice in the world regarding black people. He added that it is something Pollard wants to continue to educate the whole world about to see if they can achieve that level playing field.
Andre Russell, West Indies’ maiden T20I half century and a determined comeback with the bat helped his team win Friday’s series opener against Australia. Russel was unable to reach a half century in this format for 10 years. At the Daren Sammy National Cricket stadium in St Lucia, he scored 50 runs in 26 balls. Russell was playing in his 55th international Twenty match, having made his debut against Pakistan in T20I in 2011.
