The trending movement of Black Lives Matter gave an extra wedge of boost to the West Indies team to put all their efforts to chase victory against England in the 1ST Test in Southampton.
The Windies team narrowed down their 4 wicket win against England in the 1 test of the ongoing 3 match series with a total of 200 in the final innings at the Ageas Bowl on Sunday marking their return of International Cricket after the worldwide pandemic of novel Corona Virus.
Daren Sammy said the feeling of a Black team playing after a long break in international cricket came as an extra motivation to the touring side, led by Jason Holder.
“When you have a movement for black lives, and you have a black team come to England – with everything that’s going on – that creates extra motivation, And the decision to come over to England and play – there is something special about playing in England that sees West Indians want to rise and get extra motivated.”
Sammy pointed out that Jason Holder was enthused by Michael Holding’s take on Black Lives Matter during the 1st Test. Holder said he “felt in his veins” when listening to the legendary fast bowler discuss racism in a powerful documentary and consequent debates.
Holding broke down as he recollected the racism encountered by his parents. Holder revealed he had watched the emotional video and that it was a “powerful” recall from the former West Indies fast bowler.
“You heard Jason Holder say that listening to Mikey (Holding), he felt it in his veins. The whole scenario of this Test match, the significance of cricket being back, what it meant to see a black team on TV after this time where sport has not been played, that provided extra motivation for the West Indies,” Sammy said.
Jason Holder made this statement even before the West Indies played their 1ST test saying about how this movement will bring a change in the motivation for the entire team.
It was a pleasant view to watch how both England and West Indies players took the knee on Day 1 of the first Test showing their collective support to the Black Lives Matter movement. And to show their support towards this moment they also adorned the test shirts sporting Black Lives Matter logos on them.
After their first victory, West Indies will be willing to do well again and seal the series when the two teams meet in the 2nd Test in Manchester from Thursday, July 16. The final Test of the series will also be played in Manchester.
