The Sydney Cricket Ground was left standing before the final Ashes Test as cricket made room for remembrance, unity and gratitude. Ahead of the ball, the iconic venue paid a moving tribute to the victims of last month’s Bondi attack, honoring both those who lost their lives and ordinary people who showed extraordinary courage.
In a powerful pre-match ceremony, survivors and first responders were welcomed onto the pitch by a guard of honor made up of players from Australia and England. The sell-out crowd rose to their feet as Ahmed Al Ahmed, one of the heroes of the attack, walked onto the pitch to a standing ovation. Still visibly injured and with his arm in a sling, Ahmed acknowledged the crowd with his hand over his heart, visibly emotional.
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A moving tribute to Bondi massacre victims, first responders and community members #Ash pic.twitter.com/DXaW3xY4LP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2026
Ahmed, a Syrian-born father of two, helped disarm one of the gunmen during the attack. He was joined by Chaya Dadon, who was shot in the leg while shielding two young children from gunfire. When Dadon arrived on crutches, he received an equally warm welcome as the SCG collectively recognized bravery outside the sporting arena.
As the parade continued, the names of the 15 victims appeared on the stadium’s big screens under the words “forever in our hearts”. First responders followed, including intensive care paramedics, doctors from the Royal Prince Alfred and St Vincent’s Hospitals, lifeguards and local police officers, some of whom were off duty on the night of the tragedy.
Australian players Alex Carey and Cameron Green were among those who applauded at the boundary, fully aware that the real heroes of the day were not wearing cricket whites. The ground announcer thanked the responders for their service and applause rang out through the stadium.
Following the national anthems, Ahmed, Dadon and the respondents were greeted by NSW Sports Minister Steve Kamper and Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg. Departing opener Usman Khawaja then led the Australian team and shook hands with the group, his embrace with Ahmed becoming one of the most enduring images of the morning.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
January 4, 2026
