Tributes Paid To Queen Elizabeth II Before Start Of 3rd Day's Play

THE OVAL: Tributes were paid to Queen Elizabeth II before the start of play on day three of the third Test between England and South Africa, here on Saturday. A minute's silence was observed before the national anthems, with 'God Save The King' followed by sustained applause from the crowd.

Players from both sides and the match officials, who are wearing black armbands, entered the field through a military guard of honour before the ground fell silent. The period of silence was ended by a single chime of a bell from the highest-ranking military official in attendance, Senior NCO Robert Brockelsby Miller of the Irish Guards.

Singer Laura Wright performed the anthems, firstly of South Africa before God Save The King. Movingly, the Oval crowd joined in with the new anthem of Britain, followed by the applause which only ended when James Anderson delivered the first ball of the match.

"It's always very special to stand on the ground and sing the national anthem and obviously today will have even more on it," England captain Ben Stokes told the BBC before play. IANS

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