Watch: A plane requesting the ECB be sacked flew over Headingley Stadium during day three of the Test match between India and England.

The banner, which read ‘sack the ECB and save Test cricket’ was attached to the tail of a plane that flew over the stadium during India’s second innings. The message was seemingly put out by fans who have been “appalled with how the game is being run”. The past few years have been a tumultuous time for the English game,  with anger over the introduction of The Hundred and the perceived marginalisation of the county game and lack of prioritisation of the longest format angering traditional fans of the game.

The words, though, did not impress everyone, who thought that a stronger message could have been sent. Some suggested that pressure could have been applied to Yorkshire CCC, who have so far decided against publishing a report into allegations of racism made by former player Azeem Rafiq.

This is not the first time that a plane with a banner sending a message has flown over the Headingley stadium. During India’s World Cup match with Sri Lanka in 2019, a message asking for justice in Kashmir was seen on a plane.

Some had fun appending alternate messages to the plane with image editing.

https://twitter.com/benjonescricket/status/1431242060821106691

Watch the plane with the anti-ECB banner here:

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