England deserve praise for supporting Black Lives Matter movement, says Mark Alleyne

NICK HOWSON: The hosts and West Indies will carry the BLM logo on their shirts during the upcoming Test series as the conversation continues to gather pace

• England to wear Black Lives Matter logo
• Windies will sport BLM message during Test series

As England prepare further support for the Black Lives Matter movement, Mark Alleyne believes no player should feel under pressure to take the knee during the upcoming Test series against West Indies.

Both sides will sport the BLM logo - which has also been visible during Premier League football matches - on the collars of their shirts during the three-Tests starting on Wednesday at The Ageas Bowl.

The Black Lives Matter message has gathered pace in recent months following the killing of George Floyd in the United States - and sport has helped continue the conversation.

Alleyne, 52, enjoyed a stellar professional career, turning out over 700 times for county Gloucestershire where he won eight limited-overs trophies. He would later return to Bristol to become one of only three black British coaches to lead an English first-class side. Indeed, he is the only one since the turn of the century.

"The main reason for doing it is to support the ECB's stance on it, which is a supportive stance," Alleyne, who played 10 one-day internationals for England, told The Cricketer.

"The Black Lives Matter and black people in sport are two slightly different issues. 

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"If you look at America where the demonstrations are more prevalent, they haven't got a problem with the participation of black people in their major sports. 

"We have being trying to link participation with the Black Lives Matter movement which is almost two different things.

"They haven't got a problem with participation yet they feel they have a big problem with Black Lives Matter.

"It is good to acknowledge the support that people are trying to do but the proof will be in the action around the country.

"They're trying to show a lead. It is pretty cool to be getting this done and be vociferous about if and visible about it.

"It is good that as a team they have decided to show their respect to the movement."

Protests against police brutality and racism came firmly under the microscope in 2016 when San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the United States national anthem.

^{Mark Alleyne enjoyed great success as a player at Gloucestershire before returning for a coaching spell}

The gesture has been mirrored around the world with Formula One drivers and Premier League footballers among those to have acted in recent weeks.

He added: "Individually everyone has their own platform now and they can deal with that as they see fit.

"It would generate a lot of media attention (if an England player took the knee) and I think by doing that the message gets repeated and goes to a broader audience. 

"Individually to that person, I don't think it would be any more than doing it with the team. 

"But the media would run with it until everyone starts doing it and then it becomes a none story. I am weary of being too hysterical about the gestures I prefer more action."

Ex-allrounder Alleyne was speaking prior to the ECB outlining their wide-ranging diversity strategy which focuses on areas such as leadership and governance, further education and opportunities and visibility.

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