1st Test: England, West Indies Take A Knee As Rain Dominates Day 1 In Southampton | Cricket News

World cricket resumed after a four-month coronavirus shutdown on Wednesday as England and West Indies gamers, who rekindled the tough imagery of clenched fists within black gloves, took a knee below gray skies in Southampton in make stronger of the worldwide marketing campaign towards racial injustice. Handiest 82 mins’ play was once conceivable on an afternoon marred by means of rain and unhealthy gentle interruptions after weeks of wonderful sunshine in Britain. England stand-in captain Ben Stokes gained the toss after unhealthy climate intended the morning consultation was once washed out. The gamers gathered in a semi-circle at the pitch earlier than play began to watch a minute’s silence in reminiscence of the sufferers of the coronavirus and West Indies nice Everton Weekes, who died final week on the age of 95.

They then dropped to one knee in make stronger of the Black Lives Subject marketing campaign following the demise in the US of George Floyd in Would possibly.

West Indies gamers  wore black gloves on their proper fingers in an echo of the “Black Energy” protests made well-known by means of US athletes on the 1968 Mexico Town Olympics.

Each groups are dressed in BLM trademarks on their shirts throughout the three-match collection.

Closed doorways

All 3 Assessments are happening in the back of closed doorways at “bio-secure” grounds, with the primary on the Ageas Bowl and the second one two at Previous Trafford.

When play in the end began, England misplaced Dom Sibley off the 10th ball, when he was once bowled for a duck by means of Shannon Gabriel after no longer taking part in a shot.

England had been then none for one however had moved directly to 35 for one when, after two rain stoppages, unhealthy gentle compelled an early tea despite the fact that the floodlights had been on.

Recalled opener Rory Burns was once 20 no longer out and Joe Denly 14 no longer out when play was once finally abandoned for the day at 6:11 pm (1711 GMT).

Stokes, status in for Joe Root, who’s lacking the primary Take a look at because of the delivery of his 2nd kid, spoke of the joy forward of the restart of cricket.

“I do know everyone has been yearning this, for sure from a gamers’ viewpoint however I additionally assume from a spectators’ and lovers’ view,” he mentioned on Tuesday. “This can be a large instance for numerous other people.”

However the skipper mentioned the loss of a crowd was once no reason why for England to let their requirements slip.

“We all know we’ve that duty on our shoulders, to head out and do justice for all the ones other people,” he added.

Avid gamers and officers are staying at on-site inns to prevent the unfold of COVID-19 and bowlers aren’t allowed to make use of saliva to polish the ball as a part of strict measures to keep watch over the unfold of the virus.

West Indies trainer Phil Simmons praised directors for staging the collection.

“It is a large blueprint for the way cricket can transfer ahead,” mentioned Simmons, whose facet quarantined and skilled at Previous Trafford from June nine earlier than travelling south.

“We are about to turn that different puts can get started striking issues in combination. The England and Wales Cricket Board need to be counseled for all of the paintings they’ve accomplished to get the collection at the highway and let’s have a look at what different international locations take from it.”

England unnoticed veteran paceman Stuart Vast, their 2nd maximum a hit Take a look at bowler in the back of James Anderson, who did get started, in addition to Chris Woakes.

Promoted

West Indies overlooked specialist spinner Rahkeem Cornwall, with batsman Roston Chase to offer some gradual bowling in make stronger of a four-man tempo assault of Kemar Roach, Gabriel, Alzarri Joseph and captain Jason Holder.

West Indies have no longer gained a Take a look at collection in England since 1988, however they cling the Wisden Trophy after a 2-1 collection win within the Caribbean final 12 months.