Revealed: The tragedy that inspired Usman Khawaja to wear a black armband at the Sydney Test
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Usman Khawaja has chosen to wear a black armband in the Sydney Test against India to mark the tragic death of the wife of his former teammate, South African star Ashwell Prince. Melissa Prince lost her battle with cancer on Sunday aged just 40, leaving her husband and their three sons devastated.
![[The batter wore the strip as a mark of respect after the wife of a former teammate died aged just 40 earlier this week]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/05/93699863-14246199-image-m-105_1735883783636.jpg)
Khawaja got to know Prince - who played 66 Tests and 52 one-day internationals for his country from 2002 to 2011 - when they were both starring for English county side Lancashire. On Thursday, Prince paid a heartbreaking tribute to Melissa on Instagram.
![[Khawaja's former teammate, South African star Ashwell Prince, is pictured with his late wife Melissa and one of their children]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/03/05/93699983-14246199-image-a-106_1735883849133.jpg)
'It was extremely difficult to have to see you endure as much pain as you did in the last few months of your life,' he wrote. 'But we choose to remember you in the way that we knew you. A gem, one of the rare types who touched people's hearts in a special way wherever you went.
Usman Khawaja (left) was the only Aussie player to wear a black armband on day one of the fifth Test against India at the SCG on Friday. The batter wore the strip as a mark of respect after the wife of a former teammate died aged just 40 earlier this week.
'We miss you mama and can hardly believe that you're gone. But you have mande an imprint in all of our hearts that can never be erased. 'Happy new year my love. Rest in Peace up there, your boys will always love you!'. Khawaja was the only member of the Australian team to wear the armband when they took to the SCG for the fifth Test against India on Friday.
