Australian cricketing greats have joined with fans across the world in embracing a Twitter hashtag to express their grief at Phillip Hughes’ death.

The “putupyourbats” hashtag was started after Hughes died on Thursday, having been struck by a Sean Abbott delivery two days earlier during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

By Friday, the trend was being used by countless social media users to mourn his loss.

On Twitter, former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist posted a touching image of his kids’ miniature bats lined up on the front gate, the caption simply reading: “From the Gilly kids xxxx”.

Fellow former player Dean Jones put up his 1989 Ashes bat, while Tom Moody laid out a trio of bats in his commemoration.

“A life taken far too soon,” Moody tweeted.

At the SCG, a number of bats could also be seen on Friday morning resting against the members’ entrance in between bouquets of flowers.

“RIP Hughes. The world will be a lesser place without you,” one was inscribed.

A row of yellow bats has also been left outside Macksville Public School in Hughes’ hometown on the NSW mid north coast.

Cricket Australia staff have also put 63 bats up in the front window of its Jolimont headquarters in Melbourne, CEO James Sutherland said.

Even in the storm-hit Brisbane suburb of Moorooka, a bat has been placed outside among the debris to honour the memory of the young player.

The movement has also spread overseas, with cricket clubs such as Cricket Wellington taking part, as well as fans in England and Scotland.

The hashtag is also being used in South Africa, India, North America and France, according to Twitter analytics.

Sydney father Paul Taylor started the trend when he posted a simple image of his cricket bat and blue Australian cap resting beside his front door.

“We’ve all played cricket in one way or other. We’ve all grown up with a bat and ball,” he wrote.

“This is our way to connect and show our sadness.”