England and Australia both lined up wearing light blue caps before the start of the second day’s play of the Edgbaston Test of Ashes 2023, as a tribute to the late England great Bob Willis.
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Edgbaston turned blue on Saturday (June 17) for the #BlueforBob day, commemorating Willis, who passed away due to prostate cancer in 2019. The ground was Willis’s domestic home for the majority of his career and also hosted five of the Tests he played in, including the famous 1981 fourth Ashes Test.
His wife Lauren Clark established the Bob Willis fund to help raise money for research and also raise awareness against the form of cancer.
Along with players, those attending the second day were also encouraged to wear blue to support the cause.
It’s #BlueForBob at Edgbaston today. If you’re attending, remember to wear a splash of blue.
Show your support for @bobwillisfund. 💙#Edgbaston | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/7DRfI3sSJm
— Fortress Edgbaston (excluding 2019) (@Edgbaston) June 17, 2023
On the same day in 2021, England and Pakistan players wore blue caps ahead of an ODI at Edgbaston, standing and applauding as a tribute to Willis before play.
On the Edgbaston website, a message encouraging fans to wear blue says: “If you are attending this day, please wear a splash of blue to celebrate the life of England and Warwickshire legend, Bob Willis, as we turn Edgbaston #BlueForBob.”
Thank you to to everyone at @Edgbaston @SkyCricket and @englandcricket for the most fantastic, emotional and uplifting start to #BlueForBob this morning. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/sdiOlhAuR0
— The Bob Willis Fund (@bobwillisfund) June 17, 2023
“Thanks to the tremendous support of the public, The Bob Willis Fund is proud to state that Bob’s legacy as a Player, Captain, Brother, Dad, Broadcaster, Grandad, and Husband now includes the significant achievement of saving numerous lives and families from the devastating disease of prostate cancer.”
England and Australia players also wore black armbands on day one, and observed a moment’s silence, following the Nottingham attacks earlier this week, in which three people were killed. The first day of the women’s Ashes will also follow the same gesture.
