Australia pays tribute to Hughes

The public will be able to pay its respect to Phil Hughes at a state memorial service at the SCG.

NSW Premier Mike Baird has announced the service will take place on a date to be confirmed.

“This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman,” Mr Baird said.

Meanwhile, cricket players, fans and members of the public have continued their outpouring of grief after the 25-year-old died in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital on Thursday, two days after being struck by a bouncer at the SCG.

At the Moore Park sporting complex, the electronic billboard out the front simply read “RIP Phillip Hughes”.

The Australian flag flew at half-mast, flowers were placed outside the Cricket NSW headquarters by well-wishers and a row of commemorative bats were resting against the members’ entrance gate.

Self-described cricket tragic Natan Rutstein said he felt “gutted” when he heard of the young player’s death as he added a bouquet to the collection.

“I’d feel hollow if I hadn’t actually gone and visited,” the Pagewood local said through tears.

“It’s just not the way it’s supposed to be.”

The row of commemorative bats is a part of the swelling #putoutyourbats campaign which involves people leaving their favourite willow outside their homes or offices.

At Cricket Australia headquarters in Melbourne, 63 bats – one for each of the runs Hughes had reached when he was hit on Tuesday – lined the office front window.

Sporting clubs, schools, fellow cricketers and average punters alike took to Twitter and Instagram to pay homage.

Cricket luminaries Viv Richards, Steve Smith, Adam Gilchrist and Dean Jones were just a few to take part in the online campaign, as did several clubs from across the football codes.

A row of yellow bats were lined up outside Macksville Public School in Hughes’ home town on the mid north coast.

CA has recommended community cricket clubs and associations observe a minute’s silence before each day’s play over the weekend.

Players were also asked to wear black armbands.

South Australian Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw said Hughes’ teammates were devastated and it was hard to see the organisation returning to normalcy anytime soon.

“They are shattered. Phillip was a very popular and loved member of the team,” Bradshaw said.

“They are trying as best they can to come to terms with this tragic loss.

“We are supporting them through that with professional help and it’s an hour by hour, day by day proposition.

As the cricket community continues to mourn, a decision has not yet been made about the upcoming Test in Brisbane, due to begin on Thursday.

Internationally, English fans also left bundles of flowers and flags flew at half-mast at Lord’s, where Hughes had played for Middlesex.

And players from Pakistan and New Zealand observed a minute’s silence before the start of the second day’s play in the third Test in Sharjah.

Black Caps players also have the initials “PH” written in texta on their shirts.

Stay up to date with the latest sports news
Follow our social accounts to get exclusive content and all the latest sporting news!