63 NO Forever: World mourns Phillip Hughes

From Macksville to Lord’s to Mumbai, cricketers, friends and fans around the world have mourned the death of Phillip Hughes.

The 25-year-old died on Thursday afternoon after being struck by a bouncer bowled by Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Three days later, flags were flying half-mast at the ground and a single cricket bat resting against the members’ entrance gate.

“RIP P Hughes, 63NO Forever,” it read.

Other flowers, cards and the Australian flag have been left at the Moore Park site, while Hughes’ grieving teammates Michael Clarke and David Warner were seen entering the Cricket NSW offices on Friday morning.

“Phil, you were with your mates doing what you love on the greatest ground in the world,” one card read.

“May you live on in the hearts and minds of your family, friends and fans forever.”

On the other side of the world, English fans also left bundles of flowers and flags flew at half mast at Lord’s where Hughes played county cricket for Middlesex.

English batsman Nick Compton – who lived with Hughes in London and played grade cricket with him in Sydney – delivered a heart-breaking farewell on Twitter.

“Never has someone had such an impact on my life, my career, my outlook. Devastated and upset,” he wrote.

A shrine has also been set up for the young Australian in Karachi in Pakistan.

His loss robs the sport of a unique and unfulfilled talent, former Australia captain Steve Waugh said.

“There was something about him – he had that fire in the belly,” he told Macquarie Radio on Friday.

“You could see it in his eyes, he loved playing Test match cricket.”

Hughes could have been a 100 Test player for Australia, Waugh said.

Now, his count will stand at 26.

Meanwhile, former captain Mark Taylor said the upcoming Test against India should go ahead in Brisbane as a tribute to the popular player.

“People could come out and share the mourning,” he said.

“It’s never an easy situation but … the game will go on at some stage.”

Sometime opponents, but companions in mourning, Indian cricketing greats have also paid tribute to the young sportsman.

Retired batting legend Sachin Tendulkar called the death of his former Mumbai Indians IPL teammate a “sad day for cricket” while Indian great Sunil Gavaskar said his immediate reaction was of profound sadness.

Back in Hughes’ mid north coast hometown of Macksville, a quiet bereavement has descended over the 2500-strong community.

“Everyone is beside themselves. The streets are empty,” Nambucca Hotel bar manager Karl Spear told AAP.

The shock and remembrances have also spread well beyond the cricketing world to politicians, community members and other sporting teams.

The Wallabies will honour Hughes by wearing black armbands during their rugby Test against England in London at the weekend.

People have also shared pictures on Twitter of cricket bats resting on their front doors under the hashtag “putyourbatsout”.

Hughes would have celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday.

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