South Africa will make a “meaningful” anti-racism gesture when they take the field against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day here, after failing to do so during the T20I series against England last month.

The first Test starts on Saturday and coach Mark Boucher said Quinton de Kock and his boys will look to express their support for inclusion after their inaction in the last series, which attracted criticism from many quarters.

“We’ve had a lot of discussions since we’ve come into the bubble about this and the guys have come up with a meaningful gesture,” Boucher said during a virtual press conference on Friday. “That’s something the players will share with everyone before match day,” he added.

Cricket South Africa’s interim board had criticised the team’s response to Black Lives Matter last week but made it clear that they would not force anything on them. And Boucher was appreciative of that.

“We appreciate the board isn’t looking to compel the team into doing anything one way or the other, and that they are happy to allow the team to go through their process and come up with something meaningful to them.”

Williamson boost

New Zealand’s late push for a place in next year’s International Cricket Council’s World Test Championship final will come to a head against an injury-hit Pakistan when their two-Test series begins on Saturday in Mount Maunganui.

New Zealand’s chances of sweeping the series have been boosted by the return of top batsman Kane Williamson. The side is third behind Australia and India and need to win both Tests to give themselves any chance of making the final at Lord’s.