Both Indian and England players were seen arriving on the field wearing black bands on Day 1 of the 2nd Test on Wednesday, July 2. The gesture was made in memory of former England cricketer Wayne Larkins, who passed away on June 28 at the age of 71.
Remembering Wayne Larkins: A Stylish Batter and Domestic Stalwart
Wayne Larkins is a former England cricketer, known as ‘Ned,’ who made his debut in 1971. Since then, he has played 13 Tests and 25 ODIs for the Three Lions. Ned was known for his aggressive batting in that era and was highlighted as one of the most stylish players of his time. One of his most memorable moments came in 1990, when he hit the winning runs for England against the West Indies at Sabina Park.
Larkins was a more regular player in domestic cricket, representing Northamptonshire and Durham, and famously played into his late 40s. Although he played relatively few matches for England, his fearless approach and entertaining style made him a fan favorite who regularly drew big crowds.
Both Indian and England players paid tribute to the late Wayne Larkins with a moment of silence observed before the start of the match.
Wayne Larkin Stats
Test (1980–1991)
- Matches: 13
- Innings: 25
- Runs: 493
- Average: 20.5
- 50/100: 3 fifties / 0 hundreds
- Best Score: 64
ODI (1979–1991)
- Matches: 25
- Innings: 24
- Runs: 591
- Average: 24.6
- 50/100: 0 fifties / 1 hundred
- Best Score: 124
First-Class (1972–1995)
- Matches: 482
- Innings: 842
- Runs: 27,142
- Average: 34.4
- 50/100: 116 fifties / 59 hundreds
- Best Score: 252
Notably, this was not the first time players were seen wearing black armbands. Similar gestures were previously made in memory of the Ahmedabad plane crash victims and former Indian cricketer Dilip Doshi.
Stay tuned for more updates on the England vs India 2nd Test.
