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Australia cricketers pay tribute to Hughes


Bangladeshpost
Published : 28 Nov 2019 07:46 PM | Updated : 07 Sep 2020 09:54 PM

Australia’s cricketers have paid moving tribute to Phillip Hughes on the fifth anniversary of his death, gathering on the Adelaide Oval pitch to remember him after his death in a freak on-field accident, reports AFP.

Hughes, who played 26 Tests, died from bleeding on the brain on November 27, 2014, after being hit on the neck by a rising ball while batting in a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

David Warner and Nathan Lyon, part of the team that will play Pakistan in the second Test starting Friday, were on the field when Hughes collapsed, while Steve Smith was also a teammate and friend of the 25-year-old.

Australian captain Tim Paine said coach Justin Langer gathered the team in a circle on the pitch late Wednesday, the anniversary of Hughes’s death, to remember their colleague.

“Last night actually it was quite a nice moment. JL had us in the middle of the ground, in a bit of a circle and we just had one of those moments,” he said on Thursday.

“It was just trying to remember him in a positive way and remind ourselves how lucky we are to be playing the game that he loved”. Cricket Australia chief executive Kevin Roberts said the impact of Hughes’ tragic death was still being felt.

“A man dedicated to his family, a loyal friend, a popular teammate and a prodigiously talented cricketer,” Roberts said.

“There hasn’t been a single day over these last five years when Phillip’s loss hasn’t been felt acutely by the Australian cricket family.”

Former Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who was a pallbearer at Hughes’ funeral and delivered a tearful eulogy to his “little brother”, also paid tribute.

“Every day I think of you, but this week even more. Wish you were here buddy,” he said on Instagram.