England’s cricketers – led by senior stars Joe Root and Eoin Morgan – consider plan for permanent logo on their shirts in an attempt to improve diversity within the sport
- Measure was discussed by a senior group including Joe Root and Eoin Morgan
- England’s Test shirts had Black Lives Matter badges for the series vs West Indies
- Sportsmail understands a logo with a broader message has since been proposed
- England want to make it clear cricket is a game for all races, genders and faiths
England’s cricketers are considering wearing a new permanent logo on their shirts as part of a desire to improve diversity in the sport.
It is one of the measures that has been discussed by a senior group including Test captain Joe Root and his white-ball counterpart Eoin Morgan.
England’s Test shirts had Black Lives Matter badges for the series with West Indies in the summer and the players vowed to support the movement in the longer term. Sportsmail understands a logo with a broader message has since been proposed, making clear that cricket is a game for all races, genders and faiths.
England are considering wearing a permanent diversity-based logo on their shirts
England’s Test shirts against the West Indies had the Black Lives Matter slogan on them
With the launch of an inclusion and diversity strategy in July, ECB chief executive Tom Harrison confessed that BLM had made English cricket face some uncomfortable truths — including the lack of non-white faces on the governing body’s board.
Meanwhile, England will not compromise on their Test selection for the trip to Sri Lanka early next year, raising fears at the ECB that the squad they send for a simultaneous T20 series in Pakistan will feel like a C-team.
Obstacles must be overcome before the trips can take place but Sportsmail understands that one issue facing the ECB is how to repay Pakistan’s decision to tour the UK while fulfilling the ‘elite performance’ aspect of the board’s remit and sending the strongest team possible.
Morgan wants to field his best side regularly so players get used to their roles before the T20 World Cup in India next year. Some of England’s T20 stars — including Dawid Malan, Tom Banton and Tom Curran — have agreed to play in Australia’s Big Bash, clashing with the proposed Pakistan trip in January.
The situation is complicated by the fact that because of coronavirus, England need a bigger squad than usual in Sri Lanka for the rescheduled two-Test series — and that risks taking players away from the trip to Pakistan.
Tom Harrison confessed that BLM had made English cricket face some uncomfortable truths
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