Michael Clarke arrived in Macksville via helicopter on Monday morning.
The mode of transport might differ, but the trip is something hundreds of cricketers past and present will make for Phillip Hughes’ funeral on Wednesday.
They will say final farewells alongside Hughes’ heartbroken family and a local community still coming to terms with the 25-year-old’s shock death.
Hughes’ love of cricket was matched only by his love of the land, specifically the banana farm he grew up on in the NSW country town.
Some 5,000 mourners are expected to attend Hughes’ service at Macksville High School, which starts at 2pm AEDT.
Clarke, a near-constant presence at St Vincent’s Hospital where Hughes underwent emergency brain surgery on Tuesday after being struck by a bouncer, made a statement on behalf of the national team on Saturday.
Hughes’ close friend remains the bleary-eyed face of the raw pain being felt by not only his side, but the entire cricket community.
South Australia and NSW, the two state sides where Hughes plied his trade in Australia, will both flock to Macksville.
Other states will also be well represented at the service, with more than 10 Queensland players set to undertake the five-hour road trip.
Qantas and Virgin Australia have scheduled extra flights, altered timetables and arranged larger planes to help shuttle more people to Coffs Harbour for the funeral.
For those unable to attend, it will be screened on TV and broadcast on radio.
In addition, public viewings will be held at Adelaide Oval, the SCG and Blundstone Arena.
“His presence will always be felt with our players and supporters and it will be a fitting tribute for thousands of people to pay their respect at the ground he called home for three seasons,” South Australian Cricket Association chief executive Keith Bradshaw said.
“The field of play will also be open after the service and members from the public will have an opportunity to leave a tribute for Phillip near the centre wicket.”
Hughes was on 63 at the SCG when his life was tragically cut short.
SCG Trust chief executive Jamie Barkley is hoping fans remember Hughes’ many triumphs at the venue, including a century he scored at age 19 in the 2008 Sheffield Shield final.
“It is fitting that the people whose lives he touched can say farewell from a ground where he had so much success,” Barkley said.
Greg Chappell and Simon Katich penned touching tributes on Cricket Australia and AFL club Greater Western Sydney’s website respectively.
“The response from around the world has been staggering. His death has stopped the Australian nation in an unprecedented way. This has been Australia’s Princess Diana moment,” Chappell wrote.
“What we must take from this is the legacy of how Phillip lived his life … he never complained if breaks didn’t go his way.”
Katich noted Hughes was “cheeky, charming, humble, respectful and confident. But most importantly, he had been brought up by his beautiful parents Greg and Virginia to never forget where he came from”.
Hugh Jackman on Monday joined the likes of Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Socceroos skipper Mile Jedinak as the #putoutyourbats campaign showed no signs of slowing down.
