England players joined their West Indies counterparts in supporting racial equality by deciding on Thursday (July 2) to also wear the 'Black Lives Matter' logo on the collar of their shirts during the three-Test series, beginning July 8. 

The logo designed by Alisha Hosannah, the partner of Troy Deeney, the Watford soccer team captain, will be worn by both the teams as a sign of their backing to the worldwide protests going on against racism since an Afro-American, George Floyd, passed away on May 25 in the custody of a white policeman after being kneeled on his neck. 

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"It is important to show solidarity to the Black community and to raise much-needed awareness around the topics of equality and justice,” England captain Joe Root said in a statement. 

"The England players and management are unified in this approach and will use the platform of international cricket to fully support the objective of eradicating racial prejudice wherever it exists."

"The majority of us do not understand what individuals from BAME (Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic) background have to go through when people make judgments because of the color of their skin. As a group, we are learning about this and educating ourselves," he added. 

The Test series starting in Southampton will mark the return of international cricket after a lengthy COVID-19 hiatus and will be played in a bio-secure bubble, where all the strict health safety guidelines laid down by the ICC will be adhered to. 

The Old Trafford ground in Manchester, where West Indies players had gone through their quarantine period, will host the next two Test matches.