Picture Credit: ECB
Following the demise of Queen Elizabeth II, the England and Whales Cricket Board (ECB) has suspended the Day 2 of the ongoing third Test between England and South Africa at Kennington Oval, in London. In its released statement, ECB stated that the information regarding further fixture will be updated in due course.
Notably, Buckingham Palace on Wednesday announced that Queen Elizabeth II, world's longest-reigning monarch and the United Kingdom's figurehead for seven decades, had died at the age of 96. Apart from Test match between England and South Africa, matches in the domestic Rachel Heyhoe Flint Trophy were called off, while the English Football League cancelled two games scheduled on Friday. A minute of silence was observed at Manchester United, Arsenal, West Ham and Heart's European matches.
The EFL informed that an information regarding the remainder of this weekend's scheduled fixture will be made after a review of the official mourning guidance, in addition to further consultation with DCMS and other sports on Friday morning. Speaking of the third Test, Day 1 of The Oval Test was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to consistent rain. Earlier, England won the toss and opted to field. Both the teams have won a match in three-match Test series and will be hoping to clinch the final Test of the series.
England lost the series opener by an innings and 12 runs following Kagiso Rabada's incredible seven-wicket haul including five-fer in the 1st innings. However, the second Test match saw the best of England skipper Ben Stokes who notched up his maiden Test hundred as a captain along with century from wicket-keeper batter Chris Foakes in the second innings which guided the hosts to clinch the game by an innings and 85-runs.