Published: Dec 08, 2014, 11:16 AM (IST)
Edited: Dec 08, 2014, 11:20 AM (IST)
Sydney: Dec 8, 2014
Sean Abbott, who delivered the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, is set to resume his career after being named in the New South Wales (NSW) squad to play against Queensland on December 9.
There were fears that the young fast bowler may have been so traumatized that he might never play again after Hughes died from being hit by one of his bouncers at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on November 25. But he was included in a 12-man squad to play Queensland in a Sheffield Shield fixture in Sydney from Tuesday.
Abbott attended Hughes’s funeral last week and many people around the cricket world have expressed solidarity with the 22-year-old.
NSW captain Moises Henriques said the bowler was holding up well. “He’s coping pretty well, said Henriques
“I guess from our point of view as fellow players, we’re trying to expel his name from the tragedy a little bit, because in my opinion I don’t think he’s any more at fault than any other fast bowler who’s ever bowled a bouncer in his career. “We’re actually trying to remove his name from everything that’s happened, and just treat him as another one of the players.” he said
Abbott’s return coincides with Australia facing India in the delayed first Test at Adelaide, with a number of tributes planned. The Australian players will wear Hughes’ Test cap number 408 on their playing shirts for the match, and black armbands in honour of their former team-mate.
Prior to the start of play on Tuesday, the Australian and Indian teams will stand before a large 408 painted on the oval’s playing surface as they observe a video tribute, narrated by former Australia Test captain and prominent commentator Richie Benaud.
