Captain Michael Clarke appeared to have the weight of the world on his shoulders when he fronted a room full of journalists to deliver a moving tribute to Phillip Hughes on behalf of his teammates.

Before reading the prepared piece on Saturday in Sydney, the emotional captain told the huge gathering of media: “I’ll do my best, guys.”

And that he did, delivering the heartwrenching statement in which he promised the Australian cricket side would do everything they could to honour Hughes’ memory.

From the moment he walked into the room at the SCG, the pain was visibly etched across his face, and a sharp intake of air was audible as he sat down to face the mass of cameras.

He bowed his head as his eyes filled with tears before taking another deep breath and beginning.

As he spoke of how the team and their support staff shared in the “deep pain” felt by Hughes’ family, he had to pause again while he fought back tears and composed himself: a pattern that repeated itself several times as he struggled to go on.

Hughes was not just a colleague to him but a close friend, whom he had mentored and guided into the NSW and Test teams over the years.

The 33-year-old had been a near-constant presence at Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital where doctors had fought to save Hughes’ life.

It was Clarke who read a statement on Thursday on behalf of Hughes’ devastated family after the left-hander’s death was announced.

He walked away then overcome by emotion.

As his statement on Saturday drew to a close, Clarke closed his eyes as if relieved his ordeal was over.

The media conference might have ended, but perhaps his despair never will.

He was heard to give a loud groan as he walked out of the room.

Before Clarke came in, journalists had been reminded they were not allowed to ask questions and, moved by his grief, they respectfully obeyed.