Phillip Hughes: Michael Clarke leads emotional tribute to deceased team-mate
Updated November 29, 2014 17:28:47
Photo: Overcome with sorrow ... Michael Clarke read out an emotional team statement on Phillip Hughes's death. (Getty Images: Mark Kolbe)
Related Story: Queen sends condolences to Hughes family
Related Story: First Test could see abandoned first session
Map: Sydney 2000
An emotional Michael Clarke has paid tribute to deceased team-mate Phillip Hughes, saying no-one epitomised the spirit of the Baggy Green more than the 25-year-old batsman.
Clarke, visibly distraught and struggling to get his words out, was speaking on behalf of his team-mates following Hughes's death on Thursday.
Hughes was felled by a bouncer at the Sydney Cricket Ground and died in St Vincent's Hospital from a severe head injury.
"Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now. To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan [Hughes], we share in the deep pain that you're feeling," Clarke said.
"Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest playing cricket for his country with his mates.
Our dressing room will never be the same. We loved him, and always will.
Michael Clarke
"Things were always put into perspective when Hughes said 'where else would you rather be, boys, but playing cricket for your country?'
"We are going to miss that cheeky grin, and that twinkle in his eye. He epitomised what the Baggy Green is about and what it means to us all."
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Video: A distraught Michael Clarke says Phillip Hughes epitomised the spirit of the Baggy Green. (ABC News)
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Clarke said Hughes's one-day international shirt number of 64 would be permanently retired.
"The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it. Our promise to Hughes's family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.
"Last night I asked Cricket Australia if Hughes's Australian one-day international shirt number, 64, could be retired, to which they agreed. That means so much.
"His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives. We'd like to thank everyone, both here and overseas, for the touching tributes to Hughesy in recent days.
"Our dressing room will never be the same. We loved him, and always will. Rest in peace, Brussy."
Doubt still remains over whether the first Test between Australia and India will go ahead as scheduled as players grieve over the loss of their team-mate and close friend.
The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it. Our promise to Hughes's family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.
The players attended a sombre gathering at the SCG on Thursday night to reflect on the loss of their mate who had played 26 Tests for Australia.
Hughes's father Greg said his son would have liked the Test - scheduled to start on December 4 in Brisbane - to go on, but Cricket Australia insisted Test cricket would only continue when the players were ready.
Junior cricketers around Australia have observed a minute's silence as tributes in Saturday morning matches as tributes continued to flow in for Hughes.
Many players are also wearing black armbands as a sign of respect.
Grade cricket across the country has yet to resume with senior club matches cancelled in Sydney and Adelaide, states in which Hughes played his Sheffield Shield cricket.
Tributes pour in, Ponting feels first Test should not go ahead
Photo: Queen Elizabeth II has sent a private message of condolence to Phillip Hughes's family. (Getty Images: Ryan Pierse)
Queen Elizabeth II has sent a private message of condolence to Hughes's family, while the #PutOutYourBats social media campaign has seen a remarkable tribute paid to the batsman from all corners of the globe.
Hughes's home town of Macksville, south of Coffs Harbour, has been rocked by his death. Hughes's family still lives in the area.
Hundreds of people will gather on the town's riverbanks for the Nambucca River Festival today.
Festival manager Des Ryan says the festival, organised by local rotary clubs, will pause to remember Macksville's favourite son.
It's been such a tragic week for the Hughes family and the cricket community and I can't imagine how anybody can be expected to play Test cricket on Thursday. In fact I don't think it would be right.
Ricky Ponting
Meanwhile, former Test captain Ricky Ponting does not think it would be appropriate for the first Test to go ahead next Thursday following Hughes's death.
In his column for News Corp newspapers on Saturday, Ponting said he doubted the Australian players would be mentally prepared to play.
"It's one thing to say Phillip Hughes would have wanted the four-Test series against India to start as scheduled," Ponting wrote.
"It's another for 11 men to take the field at the Gabba a week after their close friend died.
"It's been such a tragic week for the Hughes family and the cricket community and I can't imagine how anybody can be expected to play Test cricket on Thursday. In fact I don't think it would be right.
"Even if the boys think they can play it would be a miracle if they find the right frame of mind needed for five days of cricket."
Topics: cricket, sport, sydney-2000, nsw, brisbane-4000, qld, australia
First posted November 29, 2014 10:20:35
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