IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: With England and India currently engaged in a series-decider at the storied venue of the Lord’s Cricket Ground on July 19, Sunday, both teams’ players were seen walking out wearing black armbands. Black armbands are often worn by the cricketers on the field of play to pay tribute to a tragic incident that might have taken place in the home country or elsewhere. What is the reason behind Indian and England cricketers wearing black armbands?
IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: Why are India and England players wearing black armbands at the Lord’s Cricket Ground?
The reason behind both sides’ players wearing black armbands is the passing of Sir Garfield Sobers as the legendary West Indian all-rounder died a couple of days ago, aged 89. The Barbadian, known as the greatest all-rounder to grace the game, died in his home in Barbados as tributes poured from all around the world. His only ODI came against England in September 1973 but featured in 93 Tests from 1954 to 1974. The Barbadian had excelled as a Test batter, accumulating 8302 runs at an average of 57.78 with 26 hundreds alongside taking 235 wickets at 34.02 apiece. At the age of 23, he scored his maiden Test hundred and converted it to a world-record total of 365, surpassing Len Hutton’s tally of 364. The record stood until 1994 when fellow West Indian Brian Lara made 374, an achievement Sobers witnessed and celebrated.
New Zealand and West Indies are also likely to wear black armbands when they play the fourth ODI at Bridgetown, Barbados.
IND vs ENG, 3rd ODI: Who won the toss at the Lord’s Cricket Ground?
Meanwhile, the toss in the series-decider fell England’s way and they opted to bat first, with Harry Brook announcing that the only change in their playing XI is Josh Tongue coming for Saqib Mahmood. By contrast, the Men in Blue have carried out three changes, with Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube sidelined for KL Rahul, Arshdeep Singh and Prince Yadav.
Bumrah is arguably a massive miss for the Indian side due to his ability to take wickets in all the phases of the game. There will be significant focus on the visitors’ batting line-up after they collapsed to 233 from 178/3 to eventually lose by four wickets.
