TOURISTS TO WEAR BLM LOGO IN TESTS
UAE, a place where crowds are thin on the ground for Test matches, Broad has taken 20 wickets at an average of 23, where the pitches are not exactly designed to help him.
Along with the rest of England’s fast-bowling armoury, Broad is in peak physical shape, which has meant searching examinations for his batting team-mates in training so far because the competition for places is fierce.
Coaches have even told them to calm things down a touch to avoid unnecessary injuries.
Broad, Anderson, Archer, Wood, Woakes and Curran are the proven Test performers in the training squad and they cannot all play.
“From the training I’ve seen it is pretty impressive what is going around and it has been nicely intense,” added Broad.
“Actually, the coaches have been telling us to make sure we control it because we risk injury.
“I bowled with Mark Wood a couple of days ago and he is bowling beautifully – great control and pace.
“The dream ticket is to board a flight for Brisbane and the Ashes next year and having this lot of fast bowlers all ready to go. That is the aim for English cricket.”
WEST INDIES’ players have taken a stand and will wear the Black Lives Matter logo on their shirts for the Test series against England.
The black and white logo has been worn on the sleeves of all Premier League football clubs since their return to action and is designed by Watford striker Troy Deeney’s partner Alisha Hosannah.
Deeney has trademarked the logo to ensure its proper use and has said that any money made from its use will be going to charity. And, with his Caribbean heritage and a love for cricket, he was only too happy to provide permission to use it on the Sandals West Indies Tour of the UK.
Political messages and logos have traditionally not been allowed on Test cricket shirts or to be worn at all during matches, but the ICC have given permission this time.
Skipper Jason Holder (right) said: “As a group of young men, we know of the rich and diverse history of West Indies cricket and we know we are guardians of the great game for generations to come. We did not take our decision lightly. We know what it is for people to make a judgments because of the colour of our skin, so we know what it feels like, this goes beyond the boundary.
“There must be equality and there must be unity. Until we get that as people, we cannot stop.”
The Windies team are also in conversation with their England counterparts for a way they can all unite in support for the movement. The first Test starts on July 8 at the Ageas Bowl.