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During the one-off Women’s Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, both England and Australia players demonstrated a heartfelt tribute by wearing black armbands. This act of solidarity was a response to the recent stabbing and van attack that took place in Nottingham, England. Prior to the start of the match on Thursday (June 22), a minute of silence was observed, showcasing the unity and respect shared among the players from both teams.
The decision to wear black armbands and observe a moment of silence was a solemn recognition of the tragic events in Nottingham. Through this tribute, the cricketing community aimed to convey their condolences and stand in support of the affected community. A similar solemn observance was also held before the first Ashes Test match between the men’s teams in Birmingham on June 16.
The attack in Nottingham resulted in the loss of three lives, while one individual remains critically injured. Among those who tragically lost their lives were two young students. One of them was Grace Kumar, a talented athlete who represented England’s Under-18 hockey team and played cricket for Woodford Wells Cricket Club. The other victim, Barnaby Webber, was described as an enthusiastic cricketer.
Australia captain Alyssa Healy won the toss and opted to bat first.
“Sun’s out and we’d like to bat, the wicket looks pretty good. There’s obviously going to be a little in it for the bowlers but I think we can get a good score. I’d be lying if I said if I wasn’t nervous but it’s an exciting time for me, my family is here as well,” Healy said at the toss.
“Preparations have been going really well, the girls are in a great place to come out here and compete. We’ll have to wait and see how a 5-day game will go, the wicket might play a few more tricks,” she added.
“We’ve got two debutants, Phoebe Litchfield and Kim Garth, we’ve got spinners galore. We haven’t really reinvented the wheel, we’re going to play the way we’ve played in the last 4-5 years and back ourselves to get the results.”
Playing XI of both teams
England: Tammy Beaumont, Emma Lamb, Heather Knight (c), Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophia Dunkley, Danielle Wyatt, Amy Jones (wk), Sophie Ecclestone, Kate Cross, Lauren Filer, Lauren Bell
Australia: Beth Mooney, Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Jess Jonassen, Alyssa Healy (c & wk), Ashleigh Gardner, Annabel Sutherland, Alana King, Kim Garth, Darcie Brown
