Cricket plays tribute to the Queen as fans bash UK soccer for scrapping games

LONDON — The Oval has known many ‘departures,’ given it often stages the last Test of an English cricket season, and with Australian great Don Bradman and former England captain Alastair Cook taking their leave of the international stage at the ground.

But the south London venue fell silent on Saturday before the start of the third day’s play in the third Test between England and South Africa for a farewell of a very different sort, as the ground paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II.

The death of Britain’s longest-serving monarch at the age of 96 on Thursday had led the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to abandon Friday’s play.

And with Thursday’s opening day washed out, it meant what should have been a five-day match had now been reduced to a three-day game.

Unlike their counterparts at English soccer’s Premier League, who have suspended their fixtures this weekend, the ECB decided to resume play Saturday.

Soccer fans decried the Premier League decision as a “missed opportunity” to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, The Guardian reported.

A beautiful few moments as cricket pays its respects to Her Majesty The Queen. pic.twitter.com/3QnZiFEOKq

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 10, 2022

“We believe football is at its finest when bringing people together at times of huge national significance — be those moments of joy or moments of mourning,” said the FSA, which represents fans in England and Wales, in a statement. “Our view, which we shared with the football authorities, is that most supporters would have liked to go to games this weekend and pay their respect to the Queen alongside their fellow fans.”

“Not everyone will agree, so there was no perfect decision for the football authorities, but many supporters will feel this was an opportunity missed for football to pay its own special tributes,” the statement read.

‘Incredible inspiration’

“It’s been very sad news for not only the nation but the world with the Queen’s passing,” England captain Ben Stokes told Sky Sports before play resumed.

“She was someone who dedicated her life to the nation, someone that we take incredible inspiration from and we are honored to be able to walk out on the field in memory of the Queen.”

The all-rounder added: “We know how much the Queen loved this sport, and the show must go on. I’m sure she’ll be looking down on all the sport that’s still going ahead over this weekend and that we’re going out there in her honor. I’m very pleased and proud we can do that.”

As spectators took their seats at the Oval, they would have noticed a few changes, with the usual advertising signs on the perimeter hoardings replaced by black and white messages marking the death of the Queen.

Then, ten minutes before the scheduled start of play at 11:00 a.m. (1000 GMT), the players and match officials — all wearing black armbands as a sign of respect — walked onto the outfield through a military guard of honor.

Under gray skies, and with the Union flag flying alone above the pavilion — where the England and South Africa flags would usually have been on display as well — a near-capacity crowd of 27,500 then observed a minute’s silence.

With the teams and officials still lined up in front of the pavilion, professional singer Laura Wright — well known for her performances at sporting events — sang the South African national anthem unaccompanied as the crowd listened in silence before politely applauding.

Wright then delivered the first performance of ‘God Save the King’ — Britain’s now slightly but nevertheless significantly altered national anthem — at a major sporting event since the Queen’s death, with the crowd joining in before a ripple of applause went around England’s oldest Test match ground.

Then, their duty done, the crowd roared in James Anderson as the England great bowled the first ball of the match.