Why Are India and Australia Wearing Black Armbands?, Reason Explained

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Why Are India and Australia Wearing Black Armbands? Reason Explained: The second match of the five-match T20 series between India and Australia is being played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. After winning the toss, Australian captain Mitchell Marsh has decided to bowl first. Players from both teams will wear black armbands during the Melbourne T20 match. The main reason behind this is the tragic death of a 17-year-old Australian player in Melbourne a few days ago.

Tribute to 17-year-old cricketer Ben Austin

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The reason for the Indian and Australian players wearing black armbands was the tragic death of 17-year-old cricketer Ben Austin. Ben Austin was a young and promising cricketer from Melbourne who recently passed away.

A minute's silence before the match

A minute of silence was observed at the MCG following the tragic passing of Ben Austin ❤️ pic.twitter.com/xly79nAgcg

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 31, 2025

Before the start of the Melbourne T20 match, players from both teams observed a minute's silence on the field. This was a way of paying emotional tribute to the sudden death of 17-year-old Ben Austin. The players decided to play wearing black armbands to express their condolences in this tragic time.

How did Ben Austin die while playing cricket?

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Ben Austin passed away on October 29. He was practicing in the nets before a T20 match in Melbourne on October 28. According to reports:

• He was batting in front of an automatic bowling machine wearing a helmet.
• During practice, a ball struck him between the head and neck area.
• He was immediately rushed to the hospital, but despite all efforts, he could not be saved.

This incident is a deep shock to the cricket world.

Women players also paid tribute

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In the ICC Women's ODI World Cup 2025 semi-final match between India and Australia on October 30, players from both teams wore black armbands to pay tribute to Ben Austin, who had passed away.

Also Read: IND-W vs AUS-W semi-final: Full highlights of India record win

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