Australia vs England 3rd Test, Ashes 2025 26: Australian and England players came together to stand in solidarity as they observed a moment of silence ahead of the third Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval to pay tribute to the victims of the deadly mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The players of both teams came out wearing black armbands as they lined up before the start of play with their heads down in remembrance of those who lost their lives in the attack earlier this week. Flags around the ground were lowered to half-mast, displaying the grief at the first major sporting event in Australia since the tragedy.
The tribute also witnessed a moving performance of True Blue by Australian singer-songwriter John Williamson, with the song’s message of unity across the packed stadium. Notably, tight security was on display at the venue, with armed police stationed inside and outside Adelaide Oval, where more than 50,000 spectators were expected to attend. Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said the sport stood with those affected by the violence. "The thoughts of everyone in the cricket world are with the victims of this terrible event, their families, friends and the Jewish community," he said.
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A moment's silence at Adelaide Oval to pay respect to the victims of the Bondi tragedy, and offer condolences to their family, friends, and the Jewish community, followed by John Williamson and True Blue 🙏 pic.twitter.com/ssgxkV4t06
— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 16, 2025
In a horrific turn of events, the Bondi Beach attack took place during a celebration marking the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, when a father and son opened fire at the popular beachfront and a nearby park. A total of 15 people were killed and dozens injured in the shooting, which lasted around 10 minutes. The father was later killed, while the son remains in a coma under police guard.
Australian captain Pat Cummins, who lives close to the area, spoke of the personal impact of the incident. "It’s a place that’s just around the corner from where we live and where we take the kids all the time,” he said. "To see something like that happen is horrifying." England captain Ben Stokes also paid respect to the victims of the tragedy.
"It’s incredibly sad for Australia, for Sydney and for the world,” he said. “Moments like this remind you of what really matters."
Talking about the match, Australia headed into the Adelaide Test with a 2-0 lead as they defeated England in the first two matches on the back of a dominating performance. A win in Adelaide will seal the five-match series for them, whereas England aim to produce an improved effort in order to remain alive in the Ashes.