England cricketers were spotted wearing black armbands today during the third Boxing day test match in the Ashes 2021-22 cricket series
Stepping out for the Boxing Day test match a day after Christmas, the English cricketers were spotted wearing black armbands. It was to honour ex-England captain Ray Illingworth who sadly departed Earth at the age of 89.
Why Were England Players Wearing Black Armbands In The 3rd Ashes Boxing Day Cricket Test Match Today
Illingworth had famously lead England to a 2-0 Ashes series win in Australia back in 1970-71. He was currently undergoing radiotherapy for esophageal cancer with him ailing from the disease for a lengthy amount of time.
“It’s always incredibly sad to lose a person who has given so much to the English game, and to the sport of cricket in general,” England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison said about Ray’s unfortunate demise.
“Ray was a superb cricketer, and his deep love, passion and knowledge for the game meant he continued to contribute long after his playing days had finished,” he continued.
Illingworth had gone onto play first class cricket for a mammoth 32 years since his debut in 1951 to his final appearance in 1983. He ended up accruing a staggering 24,134 runs along with snagging 2,972 wickets along with being named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1960.
The cricketer who had represented Yorkshire and Leicestershire at the domestic level played 61 tests for England between 1958 and 1973 in which he scored 1,836 runs at an average of 23.24, and claimed 122 wickets at 31.20. England won 12 matches during his reign as the captain in 31 encounter. He was later named chairman of selectors for England for the period spanning 1993-1996 and had also coached the side for one year during 1995-96.
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