Revealed: Why Australian Players Were Wearing Black Armbands On Final Day Of Gabba Test
Nov 27, 2017 at 11:54 AM
Australian players sported a black armband on the fifth day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.
On an otherwise cheerful Monday for the whole of Australia as Steve Smith & Co. were within touching distance of winning the game when David Warner and Cameron Bancroft began the proceedings on the fifth day, emotions took centre stage as the day (November 27) also marked the third death anniversary of Phillip Hughes.
Hughes, who was just 25 when the tragedy happened, was batting for South Australia against New South Wales when he collapsed after being hit on the lower back of the neck by a Sean Abbott bouncer. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition, but he never regained consciousness and lost the battle against life.
It has been three years since the tragic incident rocked the cricket community and the whole Australia but that horrific day is still fresh in the Australian cricketers’ mind as they paid emotional tribute to their former teammate on the last day of the Gabba Test against England.
The Australian players were seen wearing black armbands with the initials of Hughes’ named PH written on it in memory of the former batsman.
Opening batsman David Warner also paid a special heartfelt tribute to Hughes, looking skywards upon reaching 63 not out, the same score the former batsman was on when he received the fatal injury.
Meanwhile, the emotional roller coaster soon took another turn when Cameron Bancroft hit Chris Woakes to seal the game for the hosts. Starting the day on 114 for no loss in pursuit of a modest 170, Warner and Bancroft did not take much time to complete the formalities as they shared a record 173-run stand to help Australia register a thumping 10-wicket victory. Warner scored 87 while debutant Bancroft contributed 81.