The Australian cricket team took a knee for the first time to protest racial injustice ahead of their T20 clash with the West Indies in St Lucia this morning.

The men’s team had previously not taken a knee before an international match but joined their opponents to recognise the Black Lives Matter movement ahead of the the five-game T20 series.

Players from both teams, including skipper Aaron Finch and WA stars Ashton Agar, Mitch Marsh and Josh Philippe performed the gesture, while Andrew Tye and Ashton Turner joined coach Justin Langer to take a knee from behind the boundary.

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In a statement, Cricket Australia said they stood with the West Indies in “condemning racial injustice and discrimination”.

“The Australian men’s cricket team stands with the West Indies cricket team in condemning racial injustice and discrimination, both at home in Australia, and throughout the world,” a CA statement read.

“As a team we’ll continue to educate ourselves, provide support where possible, and create awareness for those who are victims of racial injustice, and/or discrimination in any form.

“We kneel alongside our West Indians friends to recognise and show our support of all those who have been victims of racial injustice and/or discrimination, past and present.”

West Indies captain Kieron Pollard was a late withdrawal from the match, with Nicholas Pooran stepping in as skipper.

The Aussies won the toss and elected to bowl first in St Lucia.

Josh Hazlewood got the tourists off to a flying start, including a maiden over to West Indies superstar Chris Gayle.

After the Powerplay, Australia had taken two wickets and conceded just 24 runs.

A superb run out from Josh Philippe had Pooran out for 17, before Andre Russell struck some unbelievable sixes on his was to his first-ever half century in T20 cricket.

Hazlewood got the golden wicket of Russell to finish 3-12 from his four overs, which included 18 dot balls as the West Indies finished their 20 overs at 6-145.

Marsh collected 2-26 as the only other wicket-taker for the Aussie bowlers.

The Australians started their innings with skipper Finch falling for four off the bowling of Fabian Allen.

Matthew Wade got the ball rolling for the Aussies with 33 off 14 balls before Marsh showed his class in a superb knock of 51 from 31, his highest T20 International score to date.

He had little help from the middle order with Philippe (1), Ben McDermott (2) and Agar (1) making no impact.

Handy runs from Moises Henriques (16 off 8) and Dan Christian (10 from 12) edged the Australians closer to the 146 needed for victory, but the tail couldn’t wag as the Australians were bowled out for 127.

The West Indies claimed victory by 18 runs, as Obed McCoy (4-26) earned Man of the Match honours.

TEAMS:

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), Matthew Wade (wk), Mitch Marsh, Josh Philippe, Moises Henriques, Ben McDermott, Dan Christian, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.

West Indies XI: Lendl Simmons, Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (c/wk), Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Fabian Allen, Hayden Walsh, Obed McCoy, Fidel Edwards.