Cricketers around Australia are set to take the field on a sombre Saturday following the death of Phillip Hughes.
Grade cricket in Sydney and Adelaide, the two cities were Hughes plied his trade as a professional cricketer, has been cancelled.
But club and school games are otherwise set to go ahead as planned, as the cricket community continues to grieve the shock death of Hughes.
Cricket Australia has asked clubs to consider a range of tributes, including black armbands.
CA has asked the mandatory retirement score for junior players be lifted from the traditional 50 to 63.
Hughes was unbeaten on 63 batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield clash on Tuesday when he was felled by a lethal bouncer.
The left-hander was Australia’s 408th Test player, with the number set to be painted on cricket fields around the country.
News Corp Australia on Saturday published an emotional column from South Australia coach Darren Berry, detailing why Hughes “was universally loved”.
“His impact in our dressing room in a short space of time was enormous,” Berry wrote of Hughes, who shifted to Adelaide in 2012.
“He was a great role model for our young team and one we will all sadly miss but never forget.
“He was a charming, cheeky larrikin and someone who taught all of us plenty.”
The status of the first Test between Australia and India remains uncertain, with players mourning the death of their close friend.
They are stricken with grief and the merits of playing, delaying or abandoning the start of a four-Test series against India are yet to be considered.
“We haven’t broached the subject with the players yet – we will in time,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said on Friday.
“It’s really important to give people time and people will respond in different ways to what they’re going through.”
Sutherland’s colleague Pat Howard added CA must wait until players “are in a position where they can make strong choices”.
“That’s not now,” Howard said.
India’s Test squad are set to take part in a centre-wicket practice session on Saturday.
The visitors should have been wrapping up a tour game in Adelaide, but that was cancelled following the death of Hughes.
