Phillip Hughes (1988-2014)

[Alviro Patterson]

I'm not sure if people in the media saying Abbott won't play again isn't putting unfair pressure on him to do just that. As if it would be insensitive, or suggest he doesn't feel guilty enough if he does continue.

It's the papparazi taking photos of an upset Abbott which really winds me up, talk about an invasion of privacy.

[SaintPowelly]

It's the papparazi taking photos of an upset Abbott which really winds me up, talk about an invasion of privacy.

I agree, apparently Hughes' sister ( along with Michael Clarke ) was trying to comfort Abbott the other day, so hopefully that helps him, I was hoping Abbott would be mentioned in the statement that the Hughes family released yesterday.

[m@tt]

Needless to say, I was gutted, shocked and saddened to wake up to the news yesterday. Horrible. And unexpected - the initial news of his hospitalisation was bad, but you just expected him to be OK, albeit with a prolonged recovery. But instead he was dead in two days.

I'm not one to jump on social media bandwagons (even though I spends too much time on Facebook and Twitter), but tempted to fish my bat out of the garage for the #putabatout campaign.

[dan08]

A very emotional Michael Clarke

Really can't see that first Test going ahead...

[Aidan11]

Today would have been his 26th Birthday.

[Aidan11]

The ACB have amended the scorecard to show that Hughes was 63 not out instead of Retired Hurt.

"It might seem like a little thing, but it's an important distinction," said CA chief James Sutherland. "Phillip will forever remain 63 not out."

[The Waugh Twins]

The ACB have amended the scorecard to show that Hughes was 63 not out instead of Retired Hurt.

"It might seem like a little thing, but it's an important distinction," said CA chief James Sutherland. "Phillip will forever remain 63 not out."

Happy Birthday Phill.

[from_the_stands]

I'm not so sure this should be on television. This really should be a private moment for friends and family.

[Arthur Crabtree]

I read that the family wanted as many people involved as possible. I had been defending the ECB for not sending someone as it would be intrusive if they did, but it seems I didn't understand how it would be.

[Arthur Crabtree]

There are links to the funeral online. I wonder if this is a new thing.

[from_the_stands]

Michael Clarke is a mess. There's no way he'll be ready for the first Test.

[GarlicJam]

Michael Clarke is a mess. There's no way he'll be ready for the first Test.

I haven't seen him, but I have just been reading about the funeral.

Clarke's eulogy was very good:

He'll definitely be calling me a sook right now, that's for sure. I'm deeply honoured to have been asked by Phillip's family to speak today. I'm humble to be in the presence of you, his family, his friends and his community. He was so proud of Macksville and it's easy to see why today. Taken from the game, his family and loved ones at the age of just 25, he left the mark on our game that needs no embellishment. I don't know about you, but I keep looking for him. I know it's crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him. Or to see his face pop around the corner. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves. I walked in the middle of the SCG on Thursday night. Those same blades of grass beneath my feet where he and I and so many of his mates here today have built partnerships, taken chances and lived out the dreams we painted in our heads as boys. The same stands where the crowds rose to their feet to cheer him on and that same fence he sent the ball to time and time again. And it's now forever the place where he fell. I stood there at the wicket I kneeled down and touched the grass, I swear he was with me. Picking me up off my feet to check if I was OK, telling me we just needed to dig in and get through to tea. Telling me off for that loose shot I played, chatting about what movie we might watch that night and then passing on a useless fact about cows. And I could see him swagger back to the other end, grinning at the bowler and call me through for a run with a booming voice. The heart of the man that lived his life for this wonderful game we played and whose soul enriched not just our sport but all of our lives. Is this what indigenous Australians believe in person's spirit being connected to the land on what they walk? If so I know they are right about the SCG. His spirit has touched it and it will forever be a sacred ground for me. I can feel his presence there and I can see how he has touched so many people around the world. The tributes to him from cricket lovers kept he going. The photos, the words, the prayers and the sense of communion in this loss from people across the globe have shown me his spirit is in action. It has sustained me and overwhelmed me in equal measure and the love of my band of baggy green gold brothers and sisters have held me upright when I thought I could not proceed. His spirit has brought us closer together, something I know must be him at work because it's so consistent with how he played and lived. He always wanted to bring people together and he always wanted to celebrate his love for the game and its people. Is this what we call the spirit of cricket? From the little girl in Karachi holding a candlelight tribute to masters of the game like Tendulkar, Warne and Lara showing their grief to the world, the spirit of cricket binds us all together. We feel it in the thrill of a cover drive or the taking of a screamer at gully, whether by a 20-year-old boy in Worcestor or Brendan McCallum in Dubai. Just as significant to the players in a western suburb club game as it is in a Test match. The bonds leading to cricketers around the world putting their bats out, who saw people who didn't know Phillip lay flowers at the gates of Lords and every cricketing nation on Earth to make its tribute. Players old and new rushed to his bedside where from wherever they heard the news to say their prayers and farewell s. This is what makes our game the greatest game in the world. Phillip's spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love. We must listen to it, we must cherish it, we must learn from it, we must dig in, ... we must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on. So rest in peace, my little brother, I'll see you out in the middle.

[GarlicJam]

I can see Clarke really wanting to play, though. Play for Hughes, honour him. Same as a few others. Interesting that Harris has mentioned that he doesn't feel up to it yet, there may well be a few, or more, in the same boat.

(not meant as critical of Harris, btw)

[rich1uk]

everyone will respond to a tragedy like this differently but speaking from personal experience I think the worst thing they can do is delay trying to get back to their "normal" life , and for these guys that means playing cricket

I had 2 pretty significant losses in my late teens/early 20s and on both occasions it was almost a relief to get back to work, to get back to playing sport and just doing normal things as it gave me something else to focus on and not just be sitting around depressed and thinking of the person I had lost

I don't think it shows disrespect in any way to want to get back to normal, I know its a cliché but life really does have to go on and the best way in my opinion to respect phil hughes and the game he loved is to get back to playing it

[GarlicJam]

I agree, Rich. A decent amount of time to grieve, then some normality to take your mind off things. The biggest issue with that is that Hughes was (obviously) a cricketer, and that is what killed him.