England v India

Watch: Plane with anti-ECB banner flies over Headingley during England-India Test

by Wisden Staff August 27, 2021 - 7:39pm 2 minute read

Watch: A plane requesting the ECB be sacked flew over Headingley Stadium during day three of the Test match between India and England.

The banner, which read ‘sack the ECB and save Test cricket’ was attached to the tail of a plane that flew over the stadium during India’s second innings. The message was seemingly put out by fans who have been “appalled with how the game is being run”. The past few years have been a tumultuous time for the English game, with anger over the introduction of The Hundred and the perceived marginalisation of the county game and lack of prioritisation of the longest format angering traditional fans of the game.

We did this. We are true test cricket fans who are appalled with how the game is being run. Pleased to see how the crowd reacted.

— ZombiedDaddy (@ZombieDaddy3) August 27, 2021

The words, though, did not impress everyone, who thought that a stronger message could have been sent. Some suggested that pressure could have been applied to Yorkshire CCC, who have so far decided against publishing a report into allegations of racism made by former player Azeem Rafiq.

Imagine having enough money to hire a banner-plane and wasting it on something that lame

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) August 27, 2021

Please tell me this is about the racial discrimination faced by a former England U19 and Yorkshire Captain, and not whining about a tournament designed to bring fans and money into cricket. @AzeemRafiq30

— Syorker (@CCMamba) August 27, 2021

“RELEASE THE REPORT” would have been cheaper and more pertinent.

— Tom Evans (@TomEvansEcho) August 27, 2021

This is not the first time that a plane with a banner sending a message has flown over the Headingley stadium. During India’s World Cup match with Sri Lanka in 2019, a message asking for justice in Kashmir was seen on a plane.

Some had fun appending alternate messages to the plane with image editing.