Players from both India and England wore black armbands during the second Test at Edgbaston to honour the memory of former England cricketer Wayne Larkins, who passed away on June 28, 2025. The gesture was accompanied by a moment’s applause before play began on Day 1 of the match.
“Both teams are wearing black armbands to pay their respects to Wayne Larkins—the former England cricketer, who has sadly passed away,” the BCCI confirmed.
Who was Wayne Larkins?
Wayne Larkins was known for his fearless stroke play, particularly in limited-overs formats. He represented England in 13 Tests and 25 ODIs between 1979 and 1991, scoring:
- 493 Test runs, with 3 fifties
- 591 ODI runs, including 1 century
A domestic cricket stalwart, Larkins had a prolific first-class career with over 27,000 runs and 59 centuries, playing primarily for Northamptonshire and later Durham. He also played in the 1979 ODI World Cup.
His wife, Debbie Larkins, in a heartfelt message, said:
“He lit up every room and never wanted the party to finish… We’ll never forget his unique presence.”
Match Context
The second Test is part of the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series, where England lead 1-0 after a five-wicket win in Leeds. India made several changes, including:
- Resting Jasprit Bumrah to manage workload
- Dropping Sai Sudharsan for all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy
- Bringing in Washington Sundar to add batting depth
The series continues with high stakes as India aim to level the contest in Birmingham.
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