By Jill Fraser
VICTORIA
Family, friends and teammates of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes were among the thousands who gathered at the young cricketer’s funeral Wednesday - almost one week after he succumbed to the after-effects of an injury suffered during a match.
Thousands more mourners congregated at cricket grounds around the country to bid farewell to the former Test batsman, buried in his hometown of Macksville in New South Wales.
The rising star, who would have turned 26 last Sunday, died of the injury last Thursday, two days after being hit in the neck by a high bouncing delivery as it reached him during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
He never regained consciousness. His death last Thursday through a brain haemorrhage was met with disbelief and sent shock waves throughout the sporting world.
Australian Test Captain Michael Clarke’s heartfelt eulogy for his “little brother” was delivered through choked-back tears.
At a packed service attended by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and scores of Australian and international cricket players, past and present, Clarke emotionally paid tribute saying he would remember him forever.
“He’ll definitely be calling me a sook [Australian slang for "crybaby]" right now, that’s for sure,” Clarke said, standing on a podium in the sports hall at Macksville High School.
With his head bowed and eyes cast down, the Australian test captain, who hardly left Hughes' bedside during his fight for life, spoke of his struggle to come to terms with the loss of his close friend, on and off the field.
“I don’t know about you, but I keep looking for him,” Clarke said. “I know it’s crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him... or to see his face pop around the corner. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves.
“I walked in the middle of the SCG [Sydney Cricket Ground] on Thursday night. Those same blades of grass beneath my feet where he and I and so many of his mates here today have built partnerships, taken chances and lived out the dreams we painted in our heads as boys.”
Hughes' parents Greg and Virginia invited the entire town of Macksville - whose population is just 2500 - to the televised service.
Family, friends and teammates, including his father Greg, brother Jason and Michael Clarke, carried Hughes’ coffin.
Cricket bats have become a symbol of grief for Hughes with hundreds of Australian’s placing a bat outside their doors as an acknowledgment to the popular young Test cricketer.
Today, outside his former primary school, St Patrick's, school children lined up 88 bats, signifying the year of his birth. His one bat rested against his coffin.
“Cricket Australia Chief Executive James Sutherland referred to Hughes as an "Australian cricket archetype."
“He took us all on his pilgrimage from his family's Macksville farm to cricket grounds all over the world and now to the field of dreams," Sutherland told the gathering. "I suspect that by now he will be up there and having taken guard is already flaying cut shots through point."
Sutherland, however, underlined that "Cricket's heart has been pierced by pain, but it will never stop beating."
Next week in Adelaide, Hughes’ adopted home, Australia’s grief-stricken cricketers will return to the field.
The first Test between Australia v India - postponed Thursday - is set to begin Dec. 9.
The final words of Clarke’s moving eulogy captured the sentiment of Hughes’ teammate’s determination to continue.
“Phillip’s spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love,” the Test skipper said.
“We must listen to it, we must cherish it, we must learn from it, we must dig in... we must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on. So rest in peace, my little brother, I’ll see you out in the middle.”
www.aa.com.tr/en
