When England and India took the field on Day 3 (June 22) of the Headingley Test, their players wore black armbands. Here's the reason behind this tribute.
The Headingley Test, the opening match of this five-match series, remains evenly poised. India seized early control through centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147) and Rishabh Pant (134) on Day 1, but England fought back through Josh Tongue (4-86) and Ben Stokes (4-66), triggering a collapse where India lost their last seven wickets for just 41 runs.
England's response suffered an immediate setback when Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Zak Crawley early. However, Ollie Pope – selected at No. 3 ahead of rising star Jacob Bethell despite recent scrutiny over his Test place – answered his critics emphatically with an unbeaten century. England went to stumps at 209-3.
Going into the third day, the match hung in the balance, with the first session set to be crucial for both sides. Both sides were seen wearing black armbands, a gesture that sparked curiosity.
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England v India, Leeds Test, Day 3: Why are players wearing black armbands?
Players wearing black armbands is a common practice in cricket, typically to honour a deceased cricketer or mark a tragic event. Something similar happened on the first day when players from both teams made a similar gesture to pay homage to the victims of the deadly AI 171 crash in Ahmedabad, in which the death toll has risen to 270 so far.
The tribute on Day 3 was meant for former England and Gloucestershire fast bowler David 'Syd' Lawrence, who passed away at the age of 61. He was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND) last year. The teams also observed a minute’s applause in honour of the late cricketer.
Lawrence was the first British-born Black cricketer to represent England. Renowned for his express pace during his playing days, he earned just five Test caps and one ODI appearance, claiming 18 and four wickets respectively. His career was cut short after a serious knee injury.
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