It’s been exactly 10 years since the cricket world went into a state of shock. Phillip Hughes passed away after being hit by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield game at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The then 25-year-old left-hander was struck just below the back of his head and was rushed to the hospital. The incident happened a couple of days before he died i.e. on the 25th of November. There were massive efforts to save Hughes but excessive internal bleeding in the head meant he couldn’t survive. The world was in grief and sadness all around as the New South Wales lad had passed away too soon.
Hughes was batting on 63 when the ball hit him. Thus, 63 NOT OUT will always be remembered for the young, promising left-hander from New South Wales. Another number that is associated with Hughes is 408 which was his Test cap (baggy green) number.
Cricket Australia (CA) put out a tweet with 63 not out, remembering Phillips Hughes.
His family spoke highly about their son and recollected how loving and humorous he was. They added that Phillip played the game for all the right reasons and took pride in walking out for Australia.
“Phillip was a loving, humorous and an infectious person to be around. He was a unique individual that took risky and adventurous strides to conquer the dreams he set for himself to become Test baggy green number 408. He played cricket for all the right reasons and had the ability to take it all in his strides, he loved being a part of a team and representing Australia for the game he loved so deeply,” the Hughes family was quoted saying in a statement released by CA.
Former teammate and opening partner David Warner believes Hughes was a better player than he was. Warner termed Hughes as ‘a more complete player’.
“I’d like to think he was probably a more complete player than what I was,” David Warner was quoted saying to Australia’s NewsCorp.
Hughes made his Test debut in 2009 against South Africa in Johannesburg. He got a duck in his maiden outing before scoring 75 in the second innings. Overall, he featured in 26 Tests and scored 1535 runs at an average of 32.65. He had three hundreds and seven fifties. He also played 25 ODIs and one T20I. His ODI debut came in 2013 while his sole T20I in 2014.
Hughes would’ve played 120 Test matches: Darren Lehmann
Darren Lehmann who was Australia’s head coach at that time thinks that Hughes would’ve easily played 120 Tests.
“120 Test matches, there’s no doubt about that. He would’ve just gone from strength to strength, the way he played,” Darren Lehmann said to ABC radio.
The Sheffield Shield is currently ongoing in Australia and the players taking part will be wearing black armbands to mark the occasion. New South Wales who are playing Tasmania at the SCG also observed a minute’s silence before the start of play on the 27th of November, 2024.
Moreover, CA have planned to celebrate Hughes during the second Test match between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval which starts on the 6th of December.
