- Australian Test cricketer Phillip Hughes tragically passed away in 2014, aged 25
- Many from the cricketing world have paid tribute to the former batsman
- Darren Lehmann said Hughes would have gone on to become a cricketing great
Former Australia cricket coach Darren Lehmann has paid tribute to Phillip Hughes who tragically passed away 10 years ago after he was struck by a cricket ball.
Hughes was batting for South Australia during a Sheffield Sheild match against New South Wales in 2014, when a delivery bounced up and struck him on the neck.
He passed away from a brain haemorrhage two days later in St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney at the age of 25 – just three days short of his 26th birthday.
The cricketer, who was born in Macksville, New South Wales, was one of Australia’s most exciting batting talents having played 26 Tests for the Baggy Greens.
He had announced himself onto the Test cricket scene back in 2009 during Australia’s tour of South Africa, hitting an incredible 275 runs across two innings during what was only his second appearance in the red-ball format.
Reflecting on the talents of the talented South Australia batter, former Australia cricket coach Lehmann said Hughes, the 408th Australian to wear a Baggy Green cap, would have gone on to feature in 100 more Tests.
‘Phillip Hughes would have played 120 Test matches, there’s no doubt about that,’ Lehmann told ABC News.
His passing came just as Australia were set to take on India in a Test series on home soil, with Lehmann heartbreakingly adding that Hughes was set to gain a re-call to the red-ball side.
‘When he played those hundreds in South Africa, the young Phillip Hughes, it was just taking the game on against gun bowlers. Dale Steyn … those sorts of players that were unbelievable,’ Lehmann said.
The former Australia coach said such were Hughes’ talents that he was able to adapt and tweak his game to make improvements to become a greater cricketer.
‘He would’ve just gone from strength to strength, the way he played.’
Lehmann added: ‘He was just a great young man. Life cut too short, beautiful family man, loved his cows and loved the farm life.
‘If he’s sitting there, you’re happy and smiling. He makes you smile. Very few people have that attribute where they allow you to actually feel really comfortable and smile and laugh.’
‘Our thoughts are always with his family and friends. I wish he could still be with us.’
In the weeks that followed Australia would play India at the Adelaide Oval, with players from both sides paying emotional tributes to Hughes.
Lehmann said that he remembers that Test match as the best red ball game he’s ever participated in because it was played in memory of the former South Australia batsman.
David Warner has also opened up on the Test, explaining how Australia reflected on their memories of their former team-mate together.
‘We sort of forgot about cricket,’ Warner told Fox Cricket. ‘It just was like, ‘We’re out there playing, playing a game with a bunch of friends in the park’. And (from there it) sort of just kept flowing.
‘It was crazy. The emotions were so raw at the time. (And) as a group, we sort of sat back and reflected on Phil and the memories of Phil (and) it was like the game didn’t take place.’
He added: ‘Now, (just) thinking about that, it just sort of brings a bit of a tear to my eye now, especially (now that) it’s 10 years on. He is never forgotten, absolutely never forgotten.
‘It doesn’t matter what game I’m playing, (he is) still with me out there. And I know the guys that are still playing today, they say the same thing. It was just an absolute tragedy and we miss him. We absolutely miss him.’
The #PutOutYourBats movement was also formed, with many cricketers from all over the world showing their respects through a moving campaign that saw them stand their bats up against a wall, in tribute to Hughes.
His family also released a statement, paying tribute to Hughes’ incredible character.
‘Phillip was a loving, humorous and infectious person,’ his family said in a statement. ‘He shone brightly even during tough times, reflecting the kind of person he was, and we cherished everything about him.
‘Phillip, the small-town country boy, rose to become a revered Australian Test, One-Day and Twenty-20 cricketer, facing the toughest challenges on and off the field, but he always remained grounded and grateful for those who supported him.
‘He loved being part of a team and wearing the Australian colours in the sport he so deeply cherished.’
Ex-Australia captain Michael Clarke also looked back on the impact Hughes had on him as a friend and as a player.
‘It’s a tough week every year,’ Clarke said on Sky Sports Radio’s The Big Sports Breakfast.
‘The 27th marks the anniversary of Phillip’s passing and his birthday is November 30, he would have turned 36 this year.
‘This week is never fun… thoughts go out to his family and his friends. I’m sure everybody will be thinking of him. It’s hard to believe and it’s still exceptionally raw.
‘There’s not many days that go by that I don’t think about him, because he was just that type of character. He was a great guy and an amazing player.
‘I’ll have a drink for him today and then obviously celebrate his birthday on the 30th. We were all lucky enough to watch him play and some were even lucky enough to build a friendship. It’s a tough couple of days ahead.’
On the eve of England’s first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, Ben Stokes paid tribute to the former South Australia batsman.
‘It was an incredibly sad moment for cricket. Something like that happening out on the field is something that you just never thought would happen.
‘It’s such a sad thing to think about someone out on the field doing what they love being so unfortunate to lose their life.
‘I didn’t know Phil Hughes particularly well, I’d played a few games against him, but when a fellow professional has something that happened to them, you can’t help but feel sad for his family, for his team-mates, for anyone who knew him. Also for (the bowler) Sean Abbott as well. It would have been horrific for him as well.
‘It might give you a bit more of an understanding as to why we speak the way we do, you know, that there’s bigger things than results. When you think of it like that: a lot worse things could happen than losing a game of cricket.’
On Wednesday, a minute’s silence was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground ahead of New South Wales’ clash against Tasmania, in homage to Hughes.
A documentary, entitled ‘The Boy From Macksville’, celebrating Hughes’ life, will also be broadcast on Fox Sports, Kayo, Cricket Australia and Channel Seven’s platforms from December 6.
