Tributes to be paid to victims of Bondi shooting during third Ashes Test in Adelaide as Australia captain Pat Cummins says events ‘hit pretty hard’ | Cricket News
Australia and England players will wear black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday’s shootout at Bondi Beach in Sydney.
Fifteen people were killed and many others injured after gunmen opened fire during a Hannukah celebration marking the start of the Jewish holiday.
Flags will fly at half-mast during the match at Adelaide Oval from Wednesday, while Australian singer John Williamson will perform his 1982 hit True Blue on the opening morning after observing a minute’s silence.
Australian captain Pat Cummins, whose family lives in Bronte, a neighboring suburb of Bondi, said the attacks “hit pretty hard”, while England captain Ben Stokes described the events as “horrible”.
Cummins told reporters on Tuesday: “Like most other Australians and people around the world, I was just horrified to watch this film.
“We had just put the kids to bed and watched the news as it came on. My wife and I watched in disbelief.
“It’s a place right near our house and we take the kids there all the time. We really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community, in particular. Seeing the scenes over the last few days has been pretty powerful too.”
Stokes said in his pre-match press conference: “We were sitting in our team room and the news was being broadcast about what was happening.
“Everyone was silent as they watched this happen. It’s incredibly sad for Australia, for Sydney and for the world.
“It puts things into perspective when you see things like this happening. For everyone affected, our hearts go out to everyone. It’s a horrible thing to see.”
South Australian Police have confirmed an additional security presence, including armed officers, will be at Adelaide Oval this week, although fans have been advised there is no increased threat level.
Todd Greenberg, Chief Executive of Cricket Australia, said: “This is a tragic time for all Australians and the thoughts of everyone in the world of cricket are with the victims of this terrible event, their families, friends and the Jewish community.
“While sport may seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay respect, console and contemplate what we want our nation to be.
“We will continue to look for ways in which cricket can support and honor those affected by the Bondi shootings and thank those who have provided assistance during and since this tragedy.”
