Cricket stars honour Nottingham attack victims at The Ashes

The England and Australia cricket teams have paid tribute to the victims of the Nottingham attacks on the first day of The Ashes.

Players wore black armbands at Edgbaston cricket ground to honour Grace O’Malley-Kumar, Barnaby Webber and Ian Coates, who were stabbed to death in Tuesday’s attacks.

A minute’s silence was observed across the ground.

Before the match, England captain Ben Stokes said: “The deeply distressing scenes witnessed in Nottingham this week have brought immense sorrow to everyone, particularly the cherished friends and families of the victims.”

University of Nottingham students Ms O’Malley-Kumar and Mr Webber, both 19, were both talented young cricket players, with their former clubs paying tribute to them after their deaths.

Speaking at the Test match, Eoin Morgan, England’s World Cup winning captain from 2019, told Sky News: “It’s a reminder that as big as The Ashes are, it’s just a game of cricket. It can put these things in perspective to calm first day nerves.

“The purpose of sport is to bring people together and harmonise communities and I think it’s a fine gesture by Ben Stokes and Pat Cummings on the Australian side. Sometimes on the big events you need that element of context and perspective to help you through the day.”

A tribute will also take place during the women’s Ashes Test match in Nottingham on 22 June.

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