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Aussies get bushfire support from India

3 minute read

Australia's cricketers have been touched by the support of Indian fans, who have held up placards to "pray for Australia" during the bushfire season.

India's cricket fans have shown banners of support for Australia's bushfire-ravaged regions with locals regularly putting the rivalry aside in the past week.

The bushfires have formed part of the regular news in India, with a heavy focus on the sheer magnitude of the disaster and the number of animals lost.

Fans held up placards in Friday's match in Rajkot saying "Pray for Australia", while the topic of bushfires has been raised regularly by locals throughout the tour.

Support staff and others around the team have also regularly been asked about the topic in taxis, restaurants and hotels as soon as their Australian accent is recognised.

Indian players have also referred to the disaster in interviews, while the issue remains in the back of Australian players' minds.

"It's crazy, you see social media everywhere in the world, people in America, England and then you come over here and everyone is talking about the bushfires," quick Pat Cummins said.

"It's had a massive the impact.

"Whenever we hear the politicians or people talk about India-Australia relationships, it always comes back to cricket and it shows the deep connection we have.

"It was really nice of the crowd (in Rajkot), seeing a few signs acknowledging that.

"We've got friends and family and people back home affected so it's not too far from our minds always."

Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood have spoken out in recent weeks about how they've been thinking about the regions affected by bushfires while playing this summer.

Lyon and Test captain Tim Paine visited firefighters in Wingello in NSW as soon as the Test summer finished this month.

Up to $2 million of the grassroots fund - set aside by the players out of the last pay negotiations - could go to clubs affected by the fires under a proposal by the players union to be discussed this week.

Australia's mega day of cricket on February 8, which includes a legend's bash, the BBL final and a women's Twenty20 between the Aussies and India will also be used to raise money for the Red Cross' relief effort.

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