Ashes: England’s gesture on Day 3 of Oval Test draws attention to dementia

The English team walked into The Oval for the pre-match line-up on Day 3 of the ongoing fifth Ashes Test donning jerseys bearing the names of their teammates to draw attention to the problems faced by people suffering from dementia.

Wearing not their own jerseys but their teammates’ was a poignant reminder of how those living with dementia are at trouble at even remembering their own names.

Related Articles

Ashes 2023: James Anderson back in England XI for fourth Test

England vs Australia Highlights, Ashes 2023 4th Test Day 3: Aussies trail by 162 runs

The English team was accompanied by a choir of Alzheimer’s Society volunteers and people suffering from dementia.

Before the start of Day 3, in a conversation with former England skipper Nasser Hussain, now a commentator at Ashes, England’s assistant coach Marcus Trescothick shared his personal experience of how his father is battling the disease.

‘It’s a terrible disease, you see the sort of deterioration in loved ones. You know it only goes one way,’ he said.

Meanwhile, in the match, Australia appear to have lost the advantage they earned on Day 1; England were bowled out at 283. But England made sure the guests didn’t make much of the advantage and in return bundled the off the pitch at 295.

At the end of session 1 on Day 3, England looked solid at 130/1 with a lead of 118 runs.