Nottingham attack victims to be honoured during first Ashes Test
The three victims of an attack in Nottingham will be honoured by cricketers on day one of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston today (June 16). Ben Stokes’ England and Pat Cummins’ Australia will wear black armbands to pay their respects to Barnaby Webber, Grace O’Malley-Kumar and Ian Coates.
Barnaby, a talented sportsman who attended Taunton School[1], and Grace were fatally stabbed on Ilkeston Road shortly after 4am on Tuesday (June 13). Ian Coates was then found dead on Magdala Road a short time after.
As reported by The Mirror[2], both Barnaby and Grace were keen cricketers. Floral tributes were left at Bishops Hull Cricket Club[3], in Somerset, in memory of much-loved Barnaby on Wednesday morning (June 14).
Both England and Australia will wear black armbands during the first day’s play in Birmingham. They will also take part in a minutes’ silence before the match begins at 11am.
Meanwhile, England’s main supporter group have announced that they will be encouraging the crowd to sign Amazing Grace in the 53rd over of the game as a tribute. A statement on the Barmy Army’s Twitter[5] account read: “In light of the tragic incident in Nottingham this week, we wanted to commemorate Barnaby and Grace who both played cricket.
“So please join us in the 53rd over (Barnaby’s playing number) for a rendition of ‘Amazing Grace’ as requested by their team mates.”
(Image: Lucy Sheffield/Southgate Hockey Club/PA Wire)
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.
“It is impossible to express how much their lives and futures have been tragically disrupted. These events sadden the England cricket teams, and we are thinking about those affected at this harrowing time. As a gesture of respect, we will honour them by wearing black armbands.”
Ian Coates (Image: Huntingdon Academy)
England’s women’s side will also wear black armbands when they play a one-off test against Australia in Nottingham from June 22-26. England women’s captain Heather Knight added: “It was incredibly saddening to learn about the events that took place in Nottingham, and it felt a bit closer to home to learn that two of the victims had been cricket players.”
References
- ^ a talented sportsman who attended Taunton School (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ The Mirror (www.mirror.co.uk)
- ^ Floral tributes were left at Bishops Hull Cricket Club (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Barnaby Webber: Taunton councillors pay tribute to young man ‘taken from this world far too early’ (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
- ^ Twitter (www.mirror.co.uk)