‘We loved him and always will,’ distraught Michael Clarke reads out Cricket Australia’s tribute to Phil Hughes
Sydney: A visibly distraught Michael Clarke broke down as he read out Cricket Australia’s tribute to Phil Hughes on Saturday in Sydney. The young Australian batsman died from a head injury after a bouncer in Sheffield Shield game knocked him out.
While Hughes was rushed to the St Vincent’s Hospital, despite the hospital staff’s best efforts, he could not recover from the horrible injury he sustained. The young cricketer passed away on Thursday.
Hughes' best buddy and Australian skipper Michael Clarke zoomed towards the hospital to be with Hughes' family. And he offered his solid support to the entire family as he stayed by the bedside of his buddy.
(Photo: AP)
(Photo: AP)
(Photo: AP)
When it came to reading out a statement from Hughes' family after their beloved son's death, Clarke was the one who appeared before the media to read it out.
Watch: Michael Clarke reads a statement from Phillip Hughes' family
The cricket community continues to stand united in its grief.
RIP ‘Hughesy. As Clarke said, we will always love him.
"We love him and always will" - Michael Clarke's statement on behalf of the Australian Cricket Team #63notout https://t.co/7Txn4uJyZ8
— Cricket Video (@CricketVideo) November 29, 2014Transcript of the Cricket Australia’s tribute to Phil Hughes:
“Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now,” Clarke said.
“To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan we are sharing the deep pain that you are feeling.
“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.
“Things were always put in perspective when Hughesy said: ‘Where else would you rather be, boys, but playing cricket for your country.
“We’re going to miss that cheeky grin and the twinkle in his eye.
“He epitomised what the Baggy Green is about and what it means to us all.
“The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.
“Our promise to Hughesy’s family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.
“Last night I asked Cricket Australia if Hughesy’s 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, bruzzy”
