Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has carried a touching tribute into the blockbuster World Cup final against India.
Starc’s sported a black armband on his right armas he ran in to deliver the first ball of the epic decider at the 130,000-seat cricket coliseum in Ahmedabad.
The band was embroidered with the initials PH for the late Phil Hughes.
Hughes was an Australian Test and One-Day International cricketer who tragically died in 2014 after a freak accident while playing for New South Wales.
The 25-year-old was struck in the neck by a bouncer and collapsed on the field before being taken to hospital, where he later died.
Hughes’ death sparked an outpouring of emotion and industry change, with new helmets and neckguards introduced for batting.
Starc and many other members of the Australian team were close friends and teammates of Hughes and have carried him with them into matches by wearing his Baggy Green number, 408, in various forms.
But the fiery left-hander chose the armband, and it was well on display as he answered his skipper’s call after he surprisingly won the toss and bowled first, taking the first wicket of the final in a tense start.
After struggling through the group stages, Starc has found the spark that has made him one of the world’s most dangerous bowlers in all three formats.
The early wicket worked wonders for Australia as they continued to attack, taking three scalps inside the first 11 overs.