Australia and England players wore black armbands during the third Ashes Test in Adelaide following Sunday’s shooting incident at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Gunmen opened fire during the Hanukkah festival, which marks the beginning of the Jewish holiday, killing 15 people and injuring many others.
Flags flew at half-staff at matches at Adelaide Oval from Wednesday, and Australian folk singer John Williamson performed his 1982 hit True Blue after a moment of silence on the opening morning.
Australia captain Pat Cummins, whose family lives in the Bondi suburb of Bronte, said the attack “hit home pretty hard”, while England captain Ben Stokes described the incident as “terrible”.
“Like most other Australians and people around the world, I just watched and was horrified,” Cummins told reporters on Tuesday.
“I put the kids to bed and the news came on so I flicked on and my wife and I watched in disbelief.
“It’s a place right around the corner from where we live and we always take our kids there. We especially empathize with the Bondi community and the Jewish community. Seeing that over the last few days has also been very powerful.”
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Australian spinner Nathan Ryan and England batsman Harry Brook pay tribute to Bondi Beach victims
Stokes said in the pre-match press conference: “We were sitting in the team room and the news came on about what was going on.
“Everyone there was silent as we watched what happened. It’s an incredibly sad thing for Australia, for Sydney and for the world.
“When you see something like that happening, it makes you look at things from many perspectives. Our hearts go out to everyone, for everyone who is affected. It’s scary to see this.”
South Australian Police confirmed extra security, including armed officers, would be in place at Adelaide Oval this week, but fans were told there was no elevated threat level.
Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said: “These are tragic times for all Australians and the thoughts of everyone in the cricket world are with the victims of this horrific incident, their families, friends and the Jewish community.”
‘We Stand Together’ message displayed during silence period at Adelaide Oval
“While sports may seem inconsequential at times like these, we have a rare opportunity to bring millions of people together to mourn, console, and reflect on what we want our country to become.
“We are grateful that John (Williamson) has agreed to perform True Blue, which inherently captures the ideals of Australians from all backgrounds who share the same hopes and aspirations.
“We will continue to consider ways in which Cricket can support and honor those affected by the Bondi shootings and thank those who have provided support during and after this tragedy.”
