Ashes 2025-26: Why are Australia and England players wearing black armbands?
A moment of silence was observed on Wednesday before the third Ashes Test, with players from Australia and England wearing black armbands to honour the victims of the mass shooting in Sydney’s Bondi area.
In a sombre start to the first major sporting event in Australia since the attack, both teams bowed their heads at the Adelaide Oval in tribute to those who lost their lives.
Singer-songwriter John Williamson led a rendition of his iconic song True Blue, a piece that reflects shared Australian values and solidarity across communities.
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Flags at the stadium were flown at half-mast, while security was visibly heightened, with armed police patrolling inside and outside the venue ahead of a crowd expected to exceed 50,000.
“The thoughts of everyone in the cricket world are with the victims of this terrible event, their families and friends,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
The shooting occurred on Sunday at Bondi Beach and a nearby park, leaving multiple people dead and others injured. Police said the alleged attacker was killed at the scene, while another person remains in hospital under guard.
Published on Dec 17, 2025
