England and Australia’s cricketers all donned black armbands on Wednesday morning as they paid a poignant tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach attacks.
The gesture, at the outset of the third Ashes Test, followed Sunday’s horrific shootings in Sydney.
Fifteen people lost their lives when gunmen targeted a Hanukkah celebration marking the beginning of the Jewish holiday.
Many others sustained injuries in the attack.
Flags were lowered to half-mast at the at Adelaide Oval from Wednesday.
And just before the Third Test got underway, Australian folk musician John Williamson performed his 1982 song True Blue.
A moment’s silence was also held before play commenced.
Australian captain Pat Cummins had earlier said the attacks “hit home pretty hard” – while England skipper Ben Stokes called the events “awful”.
PICTURED: Players, officials and spectators stand to observe a moments silence to pay respects to the victims of the Bondi shootings during day one of the Third Test Match
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Cummins’s family live in Bronte, a suburb only next door to Bondi.
The Australian captain said on Tuesday: “Like most other Aussies and people in the world, I was just horrified watching on.
“We had just put the kids to bed and flicked on the news as that was coming through. Me and my wife were watching in disbelief.
“It’s a place just around the corner from where we live and we take the kids there all the time. We really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community, in particular.
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Pat Cummins and Ben Stokes both paid heartfelt tributes to the victims of the sick attacks
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‘We really feel for the Bondi community and the Jewish community, in particular,’ Pat Cummins told reporters
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“Seeing the scenes over the past couple of days has been pretty powerful as well.”
Stokes described how the England squad learned of the tragedy.
The England captain said during his pre-match press conference: “We were sat in our team room and it came up on the news about what was happening.
“It was silence from everyone in there seeing that happen. It’s incredibly sad for Australia, for Sydney and for the world.
“It does put things into a lot of perspective when you see things like that happen. For everyone it’s affected, all our hearts go out to everyone. It’s a horrible thing to see.”
South Australia Police has said armed officers would provide additional security at the Oval throughout the week
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Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg has said the last few days have been “a tragic time for all Australians”.
He said: “While sport can seem insignificant at times like this, we have the unusual opportunity to bring millions of people together to pay tribute, to console and to contemplate what we want our nation to be.
“I’m grateful John [Williamson] has agreed to perform True Blue, which has at its essence the ideal of Australians from all backgrounds sharing the same hopes and aspirations.”
Greenberg added that Cricket Australia would explore further ways to support those affected by the shootings.
South Australia Police confirmed armed officers would provide additional security at Adelaide Oval throughout the week.
Fans were assured there was no heightened threat level.
