Explained: Why England players are wearing black armbands in 3rd T20I vs Sri Lanka

Ben Duckett for England wearing black armband. [Source - AFP]

England players are wearing black armbands in the third T20I against Sri Lanka as a mark of respect following the death of former England cricketer Tony Pigott. The gesture reflects the team’s collective grief and respect for a man who served English cricket for decades.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the decision before the match, with players honouring Pigott, who passed away at the age of 67 on Sunday after suffering a heart attack last week. His contribution went far beyond numbers and statistics.

Wearing black armbands is a long-standing tradition in cricket, used to remember those who played an important role in the game. For England, this tribute is a simple but powerful sign of remembrance during the third T20I against Sri Lanka on Tuesday at Pallekele.

Tony Pigott the tireless seamer who served England and county cricket

Tony Pigott was a former England international and a widely respected county cricketer. Born in London in 1958, he spent 18 loyal years with Sussex before later moving to Surrey. However, injuries cut short his playing time there, after which he served as Surrey’s second team coach.

Pigott earned his England Test cap in 1984 against New Zealand in Christchurch. The late call-up forced him to postpone his wedding, yet he took the chance with pride, showing up for his moment and taking two wickets while representing his country at the highest level.

Across his career, Pigott’s numbers reflected his all-round value. The right-arm seamer claimed 672 first-class wickets and 377 List A wickets, crossing 1,000 professional scalps. With the bat, he scored nearly 5,000 first-class runs, including one century and 20 half-centuries.

Why Tony Pigott mattered to England Cricket

After retiring from playing, Tony Pigott continued to shape the game as an administrator with the same passion and commitment. He returned to Sussex in 1997 and played a key role in stabilizing the club during a challenging period off the field.

As CEO at Sussex, Pigott helped rebuild the club’s structure and vision. His leadership and decisions laid the foundation for future success, including the historic 2003 County Championship title that changed Sussex’s standing in English cricket.

Pigott later served English cricket at a national level through the ECB. Working as a Cricket Liaison Officer, he supported players, umpires, and fulfilled roles of pitch rating, earning widespread respect for his fairness, calmness and deep understanding of the game.

England T20I team’s tribute for Tony Pigott in the series finale

England entered the third T20I against Sri Lanka having already secured the series. Despite the dead rubber status of the match, the players chose to pause and honour Pigott with visible respect.

The black armbands underline that cricket values people as much as results. Even in victory, England ensured the focus remained on remembering someone who gave so much to the sport.

For the current England squad, many of whom grew up during Pigott’s administrative years, the tribute is also a reminder of the people behind the scenes who shaped the modern game they now represent.