IND vs AUS 2023: Reason why Australian cricketers are wearing black armbands against India in 4th Test

The fourth and final Test of the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2023 commenced at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday (March 9), with Australia getting off to a great start on the opening day of the match itself.

Electing to bat first, Australia scored 255 for a loss of four wickets until the stumps of Day 1, with centurion Usman Khawaja still on the crease. Cameron Green also went unbeaten with Khawaja and played a handy knock for the visitors. Meanwhile, Mohammed Shami picked up two wickets for India. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin  bagged a scalp each for the hosts as well.

Resuming their play on Day 2, Australia seems to have entered the field with the same mindset and aim, which is to build pressure on the home side and score as many runs as possible. Apart from this, the Aussie team also wore black armbands when they stepped onto the ground on the second day of the fourth Test. The visitors did so as a mark of respect for Pat Cummins’ late mother, Maria Cummins, who passed away overnight.

“We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends. The Australian Men’s team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect,” wrote Cricket Australia on Twitter.

We are deeply saddened at the passing of Maria Cummins overnight. On behalf of Australian Cricket, we extend our heartfelt condolences to Pat, the Cummins family and their friends. The Australian Men's team will today wear black armbands as a mark of respect.

— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) March 10, 2023

Notably, due to the health issue of his mother, Cummins left the Australia tour of India 2023 midway, and Steve Smith was handed over the captaincy reigns for the remaining Tests.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also paid their respects on the passing away of Cummins’ mother and wrote, “On behalf of Indian Cricket, we express our sadness at the passing away of Pat Cummins mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in this difficult period.”

On behalf of Indian Cricket, we express our sadness at the passing away of Pat Cummins mother. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family in this difficult period 🙏

— BCCI (@BCCI) March 10, 2023

After the conclusion of the Test series, Australia and India will play a three-match One Day International (ODI) series.

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March 10, 2023 at 11:06AM