Following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Friday will be a day of mourning in English sports. Following the sad incident, the third Test between England and South Africa at The Oval was suspended. Play is expected to resume on Saturday. There will be no planned cricket on Friday, including day two of the last Test against the Proteas, the ECB stated in a statement. After the Queen passed away on Friday at the age of 96, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) declared that there would be no play on that day. After careful consideration and consultation with the government, a decision will be taken regarding the Test’s future trajectory. The ECB also disclosed that day two ticket holders are eligible for a full refund.
“Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Friday’s play between England and South Africa Men at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place. For fixtures beyond Friday, updates will be provided in due course,” the ECB said in a statement. Reports state that the ECB and CSA (Cricket South Africa) met and reached a mutually agreeable arrangement to postpone play on Friday. The Proteas are believed to be ready to accept the English government’s decision and will extend their stay if necessary to see the series through to its conclusion, which is tied at one win apiece.
Following the Queen’s passing, Richard Thompson, chairman of the ECB, sent his sincere sympathies. He recalled the Queen’s advocacy for cricket, who frequently spoke out in favor of the gentleman’s game. Richard Thompson said: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in the game when I say how truly sad I am to hear of the Queen’s passing. Her Majesty has been such a great supporter of the game and was always so vocal about her and her late husband’s enjoyment of the sport. Her dedication to her country will never be forgotten. For her service and her selflessness over her extraordinary reign, we owe her a debt that can never be repaid.”
