Published: Nov 29, 2014, 10:36 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 29, 2014, 10:36 AM (IST)
Michael Clarke choked and struggled reading a heart-rending tribute to Phillip Hughes. It was a short statement, but punctuated with long silences as he gathered himself trying to surmount the overwhelming grief. Clarke spoke to the media on Saturday morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the scene of Hughes’ last innings.
Speaking on behalf of the Australian cricket team and its support staff, Clarke struggled to get through a prepared statement:
“I will do my best, guys. Words cannot express what we all feel as a team right now. To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan, we share in the deep pain you’re 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 we always put into perspective when Hughesy said, ‘Where else would you rather be, boys, but playing cricket for your country?’
“We are going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye. “He epitomised what the Baggy Green was 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.
“Lastly, I had requested Cricket Australia, Hughes’s One-Day International shirt number 64 should 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, ‘Brussy.’ “
