Ashes 2023: Players, officials wear black armbands to pay tribute to Nottingham stabbing attack victims

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley. (Photo by Stu Forster – ECB/ECB via Getty Images)

England and Australia’s men’s and women’s teams, participating in the Ashes, will wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence on Day 1 of the iconic series, paying tribute to the victims of a horrific stabbing incident in Nottingham.

A total of three students lost their lives in a shocking stabbing and van attack in Nottingham earlier this week. The three unfortunate victims were students at the University of Nottingham, and the 31-year-old man suspected of the attack is an alleged former student of the same university.

Following the tragedy, ECB and CA revealed that the players will wear black armbands to display solidarity with the families of the victims. Apart from the players, the support staff and the match officials will also don black armbands and observe a moment’s silence on the first day of the series. 

“The deeply distressing scenes witnessed in Nottingham this week have brought immense sorrow to everyone, particularly the cherished friends and families of the victims. It is impossible to express how much their lives and futures have been tragically disrupted. These events sadden the England cricket teams, and we are thinking about those affected at this harrowing time. As a gesture of respect, we will honour them by wearing black armbands,” said England men’s captain Ben Stokes. 

It felt a bit closer to home to learn that two of the victims had been cricket players: Heather Knight

While the men’s Ashes gets underway on June 16 in Birmingham, the women’s Ashes, running concurrently with the men’s for the first time in history, will commence in Nottingham, the scene of the attacks. England women’s skipper Heather Knight also expressed her feeling after the saddening incident.

“It was incredibly saddening to learn about the events that took place in Nottingham, and it felt a bit closer to home to learn that two of the victims had been cricket players. All of our thoughts are with the families and friends of everyone affected by the tragedy, and with the city of Nottingham,” added England women’s captain Heather Knight.