Australian batsman Philip Hughes is dead at age 25. On Tuesday he was struck on the head by fast bowler Sean Abbott during a game between South Australia & New South Wales. A short pitched ball hit him on the helmet just above the ear. After swaying on his feet for a few moments he pitched forward & fell unconscious on the pitch. Having played for NSW until recently Hughes had close friends on both sides. Australian opener David Warner screamed for an ambulance before sprinting to his friend's side. Hughes was taken to hospital where he remained in a coma until his death this afternoon. Apparently the type of injury is so rare that only 100 cases have ever been recorded worldwide. Usually it causes instant death.
Hughes was one of those sportsmen who arrives young, makes a splash and then never quite lives up to their early potential. He grew up on a banana farm in a small town in northern NSW. Like so many Aussie kids his parents drove him to cricket on weekends and supported his dreams. He was also a talented Rugby League player, and played with future star Greg Inglis. When his talent proved enough to warrant it he made the move to Sydney, where he found a spot at the same club as Michael Clarke, already an established batsman in the Australian side & soon to be captain. Hughes soon became like a younger brother to Clarke. he scored 141 on his grade cricket debut & didn't look back.
In 2009 Hughes scored 2 centuries in his second tests against the best bowling attack in the world (South Africa) on their home soil. he was the youngest player ever to score a century in each innings of a test. Most of the money from his first pay cheque for Australia went to buying gear for junior cricketers at his club. Unfortunately flaws in his technique were soon uncovered and he was in and out of the team thereafter. He was actually in the frame for a recall this summer before this tragedy.
By all accounts Phil Hughes was an absolutely lovely bloke who was unaffected by success. Every account speaks of a shy, polite & friendly young man. His death is being deeply felt not only in Australia, but throughout the international Cricket fraternity. There has been a stream of past & present sporting greats to and from the hospital. Cricket is truly the national sport in Australia and the shock & sadness is widely felt.
The other tragedy here is young fast bowler Sean Abbott. An up and coming bowler and former team mate of Hughes, he now has to live with the burden of killing a man he knew well. He has probably bowled thousands of balls just like the one that killed Phil Hughes. A freak accident. He has been at the hospital & has been comforted by Hughes' family.
Australia is scheduled to play India in a Test match in less than a week. At this stage it is unclear if that will go ahead. I suspect it will be played in tribute to Phil Hughes, though it is unsure if all Australian players will feel able to take the field.
Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes dead at 25
Hughes was one of those sportsmen who arrives young, makes a splash and then never quite lives up to their early potential. He grew up on a banana farm in a small town in northern NSW. Like so many Aussie kids his parents drove him to cricket on weekends and supported his dreams. He was also a talented Rugby League player, and played with future star Greg Inglis. When his talent proved enough to warrant it he made the move to Sydney, where he found a spot at the same club as Michael Clarke, already an established batsman in the Australian side & soon to be captain. Hughes soon became like a younger brother to Clarke. he scored 141 on his grade cricket debut & didn't look back.
In 2009 Hughes scored 2 centuries in his second tests against the best bowling attack in the world (South Africa) on their home soil. he was the youngest player ever to score a century in each innings of a test. Most of the money from his first pay cheque for Australia went to buying gear for junior cricketers at his club. Unfortunately flaws in his technique were soon uncovered and he was in and out of the team thereafter. He was actually in the frame for a recall this summer before this tragedy.
By all accounts Phil Hughes was an absolutely lovely bloke who was unaffected by success. Every account speaks of a shy, polite & friendly young man. His death is being deeply felt not only in Australia, but throughout the international Cricket fraternity. There has been a stream of past & present sporting greats to and from the hospital. Cricket is truly the national sport in Australia and the shock & sadness is widely felt.
The other tragedy here is young fast bowler Sean Abbott. An up and coming bowler and former team mate of Hughes, he now has to live with the burden of killing a man he knew well. He has probably bowled thousands of balls just like the one that killed Phil Hughes. A freak accident. He has been at the hospital & has been comforted by Hughes' family.
Australia is scheduled to play India in a Test match in less than a week. At this stage it is unclear if that will go ahead. I suspect it will be played in tribute to Phil Hughes, though it is unsure if all Australian players will feel able to take the field.
Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes dead at 25
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