England Wear Black Armbands in First ODI vs Sri Lanka

England’s players took the field wearing black armbands during the first One-Day International against Sri Lanka on Thursday as a mark of respect for former England cricketer Norman Gifford and former England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Chief Executive David Collier. Gifford, a former England captain, passed away on January 19 at the age of 85 following a prolonged illness, while Collier, who also served in senior administrative roles at Essex, Gloucestershire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, died on January 13 aged 70. The gesture preceded the start of play in Colombo, where England were sent in to field after Sri Lanka won the toss. The match later saw the hosts emerge victorious, giving Sri Lanka a winning start to the ODI series.