The announcement of the Queen’s death at the age of 96 came at 6.30pm. on Thursday, the scheduled first day of the Test, after which the ECB confirmed that no scheduled cricket would take place on Friday. In addition to the second day of the Test, four matches were to be played in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. “Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Friday’s game between England and South Africa Men at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place,” the ECB said in a statement. . “For matches after Friday, updates will be given in due course.” The ECB is in consultation with the government and other sports about the appropriate course of action for the remainder of the Test. Ticket holders for the second day will be entitled to a full refund, the board confirmed. ESPNcricinfo understands that the ECB and the Proteas management team have met to discuss options, either moving the second day to Saturday or canceling the Test altogether. The CSA were happy to accept whatever the ECB board saw fit and are willing to extend the team’s stay in the UK to facilitate the completion of the series, which is currently tied at one test apiece a. ECB chairman Richard Thomson said: “I’m sure I speak for everyone in the game when I say how truly sorry I am to hear of the Queen’s passing. Her Majesty was such a great supporter of the game and was always so vocal. Her enjoyment and his her late husband around the sport. Her devotion to her country will never be forgotten. For her service and selflessness for her extraordinary reign, we owe her a debt that can never be repaid.”
