Kane Williamson has promised to "continue that awareness" about the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement during New Zealand's Test series against West Indies. The two teams will take a knee before the start of the two Tests - the first of those beginning on Thursday in Hamilton - as they had before the three T20Is, and Jason Holder was appreciative of the gesture on the part of the home side, saying "it just shows the kind of individuals that New Zealand cricket has".
"Jason and I caught up; [we are] looking to continue what was done during the T20s and try to continue that awareness around the BLM movement and also the Give Nothing To Racism campaign that New Zealand Cricket are right behind as well," Williamson said at a press interaction on the eve of the first of two Tests. "So that will be continued on the first day of each Test match."
Holder elaborated on the conversation with Williamson, saying, "It just shows the kind of individuals that New Zealand cricket has. Kane came openly to me and we sat down and had a really good chat around it. It was just mainly him hearing our side of it.
"Really happy with his support…and New Zealand Cricket have started a campaign too, which is really good."
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The West Indians will sport the BLM logo on the collars of their shirts at Seddon Park.
"Some of the guys shared their personal experiences and it was touching," Holder said about the West Indies players sitting down together to discuss the issue when they were in England earlier in the year. "Some people are so battered and bruised by it, they're scared to share. If we throw a little more awareness and support behind it, people will be more open to share. The awareness needs to keep building and I stressed that to Kane.
"Us as individuals, we go around the world, we mingle with so many different people - you never quite understand what some people go through. The more education we put around it, the better off this world will be."
The West Indies captain also stressed that he was happy with the way the movement had picked up momentum in the cricket world.
"I think that's a step in the right direction," he said. "The more we become aware of what's in front of us as people, we would understand what certain people go through."