Phil Hughes remembered

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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:20:12:40:14 by BarmierKev.

Very well put Kev,and i remember everything you have put.
A talent that was on the verge of a test comeback.
May you rest in peace Phillip.

Well done Kev, so sad

I am not ashamed to admit a few tears were shed as was typing this

I cried when I heard the news this morning. Gus has done a brilliant article on official site, worth reading.
Today's events show why we need this site to continue. A forum for the Middlesex family to share our thoughts, views and today, our sadness

Nothing to be ashamed of in shedding a few tears on a day like this. I was in the Long Room on April 22nd 2009 and among the crowd of members applauding as the players came through to take the field. Is it my imagination, or did I momentarily catch Phil's eye and saw the excitement as he stepped out for his first match at Lord's?

Very well written, Kev and truly heartfelt.

Well done Kev
Feelings beautifully expressed

Very nice tribute Kev.

I remember very well that 40 over game a couple of years ago on a scorchingly hot day at New Road.

Worcester were struggling to make a half decent total until Phil came in. He smashed us all over the park and single handedly won them the game.

A player always worth watching and who will always be remembered.

Yes R and O, I was there as well that day. As you say, I think it was 109, won them the match. His running between the wickets was effortless.

After his 195 at the Oval he stood chatting to the fans. A great bloke who will be sorely missed.

And Kev. Well said. Was'nt on that plane but another. However did get a word with him at the Oval.

He was also popular at New Road for his up and at them style, giving 100% whoever he was playing for.

Well put, Kev.

I'd like to echo the saddness noted above. An excellent tribute paid by Gus.
Phil sat just in front of us as Chris Rogers made his maiden Test ton at Durham, and I have the picture of him applauding Buck off the ground at close of play.
RIP

I will be going to Lord's tomorrow morning with some flowers to lay by Grace Gates.

If anyone wants to join me please advise.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Thanks Kev, a very sad day for all MCCC and cricket supporters alike.

Grand tribute Kev as is Gus's on the official site.Philip may not have been with us very long but what an impression he made on everyone on and off the field. From the tributes coming in from elsewhere it would seem the guy was loved everywhere he went.I didn't even mind him smashing us all over New Road it was such a typically Yozzer innings.

Make the card out from MTWD and I'll slip you a few quid the next time I see you.

I got sent home from work this afternoon as I was either crying or struggling to hold back the tears. It's crazy how someone you encountered for such a short period of time can have such an affect on you. I think there are some people who give and do so much in such a short space of time, that they aren't meant to see old age, and Philip was one of them.

RIP Hughesy

I'm yet to get to get my head round the fact Philip Hughes has died, but when I do, I may burst into tears.

The weight of articles about this news - a Google News search for Middlesex cricket stories in the last 24 hours runs into about 10 pages - seems to be having the opposite effect on my ability to comprehend the news, because as far as my heart is concerned, he is alive, well and someone for England to watch out for in the 2015 Ashes.

People mourn in different ways, and I don't see there being much wrong with that.

I understand how you feel JW.

I woke up this morning expecting everything to be okay again. Except it isn't and won't be again. Part of me refuses to believe this can happen on a cricket field to someone of Phillip's ilk.

Just a terrible thing to have happened.

Kev has just posted on Facebook this picture from Lord's.

Thanks for sharing Fozzie. Very moving

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

As part of the put out of bat campaign I had a small signed bat signed by Middlesex team which I placed outside the Grace gates. There was a discrete TV camera filming me. I'm quite relieved this is not on SKY Sports (yet) as this was a private moment

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Rugby Union will pay it's respects to Phil with a minutes applause before the autumn international tomorrow at Twickenham between England and Australia.

The death of this fine young man seems to have drawn people together across the sporting world and is a tribute to an all round good bloke.

I'm fortunate not to have Sky or I would be in bits before this match.

Cardiff Blues observed a minutes silence before their game this evening and these moments of reflection will be replicated all over the sporting world this weekend. God bless you people.

To be honest, the 'homage' incidents of December 2011 (when my exact words were "Phil Hughes will represent Worcestershire in the second half of the 2012 season, and Middlesex supporters will be able to pay homage to him when the teams meet for a Clydesdale Bank 40 match at Uxbridge on Sunday 5th August and a County Championship match at New Road beginning on Tuesday 28th August") and January 2012 (when I attempted to choose my words better when writing about the announcement that he would in fact play the whole 2012 season for Worcs by writing "Middlesex supporters will have two extra opportunities to pay homage to him/applaud him/welcome him back to home soil/do nothing") meant I probably went from being one of the biggest fans of Philip Hughes amongst Middlesex supporters to shedding a lot of the emotions I had for him.

I'm not writing that to be rude, but am doing so to try to understand why the last few days haven't gone much differently for me compared to how I expected they would. After all, Hughes was born within three weeks of me, was someone I really enjoyed watching for Middlesex, and I have not seen as many players represent the club compared to supporters who feel sadder than I do. What tends to happen with me is that I can experience something and not feel a great deal of emotion about it, but I then daydream about the incident a long time after and feel lots of emotion. Maybe the emotions will come out when I am watching cricket on TV, maybe they will come when I am watching cricket in the flesh in 2015, maybe they will come at Middlesex's AGM, maybe they will come while reading about cricket, maybe they will come when I view footage or images from his funeral, maybe they will come when writing on MTWD, maybe they will come when I feel guilt for my hitherto lack of emotion or maybe they will come at a random moment. I guess it was due to that desire to progress in the grieving process that I was enthusiastic about the publication of the 2015 fixtures and am looking forward to watching tomorrow's Sri Lanka v England ODI.

Watching cricket from Australia would be tough and playing would be even tougher. I think Michael Clarke will be addressing the media at 11:00pm GMT, and it would be a surprise if it is to say anything other than the opening Test v India on Thursday (and possibly subsequent matches) will not take place. I am confident BCCI would be understanding about it.

I only caught the last few words of Michael Clarke's statement after searching through Twitter for a stream, but the main upshot seems to be that the one-day number Phillip Hughes wore for Australia of 64 will be retired. I don't think there has been any news about the Test series v India.

It can be viewed here:

video: [url][/url]

[edited to add video and change words 'press conference' to statement']



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:28:23:30:42 by Jonathan Winsky.

It has been announced that Phillip Hughes's funeral will take place on Wednesday 3rd December in his hometown of Macksville, and - surprisingly - that Australia's Test v India due to begin the day after has merely been delayed and appears set to take place at some point. I thought it would be decided to completely abandon the match and switch their attention to the following week's Test in Adelaide.

I am surprised that Sir Elton John paid tribute to Hughes in a concert in Munich.

[edited as link did not come out correctly]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:11:29:08:53:27 by Jonathan Winsky.

Thanks JW for pulling all this stuff together.

I decided not to go to a local Grade team get together today (all Grade cricket here in Stdney was cancelled today); just too much, and played golf instead in my club's monthly medal. Wore my MCCC polo and tried my best!

The Golf Club put a bat out like everybody else. I took a photo if you're interested?


How good has NZ been! We really appreciate their efforts over the past few days and I must say that yesterday night be their best ever day of test cricket. B McCullum has since gone in to a double hundred and young Williamson is also in his way.

Following in Kev footsteps,i attended Lords this morning.
Left a Middlesex Cap, with a small amount of flowers.
There is now a good amount of flowers, two shirts, two bats, and the cap.
The Middlesex Shop has a lovely window display and as I returned,a pair of cricket gloves had been left,crossed with 63 on them.

It is very sad that a few days after what happened to Phillip Hughes, an umpire in Israel has been killed by a ball. It is a fairly regular occurrence in cricket for a ball to nearly or actually hit the upper part of a batsman or for a ball to be hit in the umpire's direction at speed, but it is expected that surely this would not kill someone.

As well as on MTWD, it seems that discussions have taken place on Worcestershire's message board about doing something to commemorate Hughes. They are suggesting either commissioning a picture or donating to a charity. I receive any circular emails sent by their moderator, as I once registered out of curiosity to see what they were saying about Ben Scott.

Was at Twickenham today. We had a minute's applause for Phil.

Even Watford captain Troy Deeney mentioned Phillip Hughes in his programme notes today, saying it shows that sport is just a game and that other things are more important.

Today would have been Philips 26th birthday.


Happy birthday Phil.

Happy birthday Hughesy.

Gone but never forgotten

[t.co]


Link to a lovely piece in the Herald by former Middlesex player Justin Langer.

I think it is the fact that, as Justin Langer says, batsmen nearly always get up after being hit is one of the things that makes it difficult for me to comprehend what happened to Phillip Hughes, and I imagine other people feel that way too.

Angus Fraser spoke about hoping Hughes could once again play for Middlesex, and judging by the fact he made more of an impression on those around the club compared to most overseas players, I imagine Gus had passing thoughts on a few occasions in the last few years about once again signing Hughes (if only for Twenty20 due to Chris Rogers filling our County Championship berth), before realising that Hughes's possible or actual commitments with Australia would prevent that from happening due to him being on the fringes of the side in all formats. However, an opportunity could have arisen in the future.

Thanks for that link Diamond. A number of articles have had me on the brink of tears but that one tipped me over the edge. Beautifully written.

It has been announced that scorecards of Phillip Hughes' final match will show him as being 63 not out rather than retired hurt.

Quote:

The Diamond ruled ok
http://t.co/2G7thRDTUj

Link to a lovely piece in the Herald by former Middlesex player Justin Langer.

Thanks for sharing, Diamond. A really heartfelt piece.

I agree with much of an article Ian Chappell has written on Cricinfo, in which he says playing the Brisbane Test would be the best way to honour Phillip Hughes and would provide a degree of therapy to the players so they can concentrate on cricket while playing or in the nets, although they would probably be thinking of Hughes while in the dressing room or the hotel. It is for a similar reason that I was keen to watch yesterday's Sri Lanka v England match, to prove to myself that cricket can take place without bad accidents happening.

As Chappell says, Australia's next match will be a difficult experience for all involved.

An article in the Australian says it is expected that the final three matches of Australia's four-Test series v India will go ahead as planned, with the Brisbane Test being slotted after what has scheduled to the the fourth Test. This could mean the subsequent ODI triangular series involving those sides as well as England may be moved around a bit. As the article points out, cancelling the Brisbane Test would have financial repercussions, despite there being understandable reasons why it should not take place.

If this happens, then Australia's next match would be the Test at Phillip Hughes's most recent home ground of Adelaide beginning on Friday 12th December.

Nick Compton (as anticipated) and Sam Robson will both attend Phillip Hughes's funeral on Wednesday, although there will be no representation from ECB. The Daily Telegraph article on this says that Compo used to share a flat with Hughes, which I wasn't aware of, and that Robbo played with Hughes at junior level for New South Wales and Australia (I know they played together for Australia U-19s). A lot of people are unhappy about the absence of representation from ECB, but to be fair, the funeral is taking place in a school sportshall, so I don't think there would be enough room for everyone who ought to be there or who wants to be there.

It has now been decided that the Adelaide Test will begin on Tuesday 9th December, with the Brisbane Test starting on Wednesday 17th, the Melbourne Test remaining as a Boxing Day start and the Sydney Test being delayed by three days until Tuesday 6th January.

Nobody from ECB?
Well, in my views i think its disgraceful that not one person could arrange to go along and offer support.

Good old ECB,is it any wonder why no one else in the world really likes us?

The Daily Telegraph has published details of tomorrow's funeral and Steven Finn's thoughts on Phillip Hughes and how his death impacts on cricket. The article says that Hi-Fi gave his thoughts at a press conference, but was too upset to then answer similar questions for BBC.

About 5,000 people are expected to attend the funeral, so the sportshall is larger than I imagined it would be. I should have added that there will be a memorial service at a larger venue in New South Wales at a later unconfirmed date, and ECB have said they plan to be represented on that occasion.

One of my usual rest-less nights.
Watched the end of Phillip's funeral,most moving.
The people,the service,the out pouring of grief.
Played the Elton John song...'Dont let the sun go down on me' as Phillip was carried away.

RIP Hughsey,wont be forgotten.

"He who lives in the hearts of so many never dies"

Micheal Clark in his eulogy mentioned taking strength from all the shows of support from around the world. He mentioned the flowers at Lords.



Sleep well Hughesy

Indeed,gone but never forgotten.Sleep well young man.

Many like me are still struggling with this. His memory will live on. RIP

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

As Pup also recalled Phillip saying to him between overs "we've just got to dig in until tea"

His was a moving tribute as too was that given by Corey Ireland and Phillip's brother, sister and cousin (who gave the Eulogy).

I see that you had the funeral telecast, so will just provide some notes from what I saw at the SCG with some photos.

If JW gets the time maybe he can pull all the threads from the agencies into one from todays events as a lasting tribute.

Just seen Michael Clark give his eulogy.
That was one amazing speech by a strong guy who kept his strength in such demanding times.
Take a bow, Mr Clark.

The Torygraph Sport published an apology re the ECB. Apparently, the ICC instructed individual Boards to attend Phil Hughes Memorial Service but not his funeral.

For his funeral, The ICC sent Dave Richardson to represent all.

TS also reported that Steve Finn broke down. He gave his first interview but on the second I think for the BBC, he was unable to continue as he was too upset.

RIP Phil Hughes. Will always remember your 195 at the Oval in 2009.

Quote:

pantherlike
I see that you had the funeral telecast, so will just provide some notes from what I saw at the SCG with some photos.

BBC News streamed the whole funeral live. So it was at 3am onwards. I was looking to pay my respects via twitter, so I was up at that time - but ended up watching the BBC stream. I don't work in the week. I'm not sure who else would have seen it. Some snippets of the eulogys are here in these clips.

[www.bbc.co.uk]
[www.bbc.co.uk]

I can't find any footage of the other two, which is a shame as they described Phil as a boy and a young cricketer, and as a stockman with a deep interest in Angus cattle. Apparently "His deal with himself was he would buy a new cow for his herd every time be hit a 100. The herd grew very quickly”

There was no date from this 'deal' so the Middlesex centuries may or may not have added to his herd.

As well as being genuinely relaxed, hard working and a nice bloke. He also came across as someone very organised and who knew what he wanted, and had a strong identity away from his cricket. Even at 25 he already had definite plans for what he wanted to do once his cricket days were over. [and yes it was the cattle].

It makes his untimely death all the more tragic.

And Kev, I think I know just how you feel.

So many tributes have been paid to Phillip Hughes, that is difficult to be aware of all of them. I have not seen much footage of today, although I have read a bit.

Nick Compton has given his thoughts on the day and Middlesex have reTweeted a photo of a bat at the SCG mentioning MTWD.

I have no idea how the bat got there. It says:

RIP
PHILLIP
HUGHES

IN
OUR
MIDDX
MEMORIES*
FOREVER!
MTWD

First-class statistics*

Runs 574
HS 195
Average 143.50
2009

* I am uncertain whether I have read these words correctly.

[edited to add final line]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:03:18:10:19 by Jonathan Winsky.

You got it spot on JW! Well read

I put it there.

That's a lovely gesture Pantherlike, top man.

Middlesex have posted a video of highlights of Phillip Hughes's time with the club:

video: [url][/url]

The Hampstead & Highgate Express has published Fletch's thoughts on the video.

[edited to link to Ham & High article]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014:12:06:09:59:32 by Jonathan Winsky.

Have just watched the footage,Fletch has put together some great memories.
Its on Both the club and Fletch's facebook pages.

This video summarised Phil Hughes extraordinary short career for Middle. A great watch that bought another tear to my eye. MTWD have more footage to follow.

The tributes to Phillip Hughes at Tuesday's Adelaide Test will include Hughes's Test cap number of 408 being painted on the outfield, a video tribute narrated by Richie Benaud being shown around the ground, 63 seconds of applause, the Australia players' shirts bearing the number 408 and the players and management of both sides as well as presumably the umpires wearing black armbands.

I am not sure whether the video will be the below one:

video: [url][/url]

After Phillip Hughes's funeral was so well attended, it has been decided that there is no need for a state memorial service, which ends ECB's hopes of attending this event.

Hughes will be named 13th man for the Adelaide Test.

The test series starts tomorrow.
Many tributes to Phillip are planned,good luck to the Aussie side,stay strong for Phillip.

Things seem to be going well for Australia, with Phillip Hughes's friend David Warner scoring 145. It was cruel that Michael Clarke was injured while evading a bouncer, although his injury is no more severe than aggravating the back and hamstring problems which had made his participation in this series doubtful.

Cricinfo have published an article about the wait for a bouncer, which came in the 19th ball of the match. Thankfully, Sean Abbott is back playing for New South Wales today, and he bowled one with his fifth ball.

The Daily Telegraph and Cricinfo have published galleries of the tributes for Hughes at the Test match.

I have never more wanted Australia to do well in a days cricket. Richie Benaud's words at start so moving. Well do on Warner's century and looking up to sky's as part of celebration.

Also good to see Sean Abbot back in action and from the limited action I say fired up. It can't have been easy.

The lad bowled a bouncer with his fifth
ball.Shows a lot of bottle.
Excellent start to what must be a very
difficult period in his young life.

Congratulations to Steve Smith and Michael Clarke on reaching centuries. I was unsure whether Clarke would be able to play much more in this match after being injured yesterday, but he was able to resume today and go to three figures.

Sean Abbott today took 6-14 to bowl New South Wales to an innings and 80 runs victory v Queensland at the SCG. He has already played one ODI and three Twenty20 internationals for Australia, all of which came in the last two months, so it is very much within the realms of possibility that he can make further international appearances in his career.

David Warner has now posted a century in each innings of the present Test.

Australia did Phillip Hughes proud by winning a classic by 48 runs. It would have been appropriate had David Warner been named Man of the Match, but after Nathan Lyon followed his first innings 5-134 with a second innings 7-152, there could be little arguing about Lyon instead receiving the award. Like Warner, Lyon played for New South Wales against Hughes's South Australia in the fatal match.

Michael Clarke suffered a recurrence of a hamstring injury today, and has said he may never play again, which would really be a shame. It seems he will definitely not play again this Australian summer, although surely a hamstring injury won't be career-ending. Had circumstances been different, he may have sat this match out as a precaution, or alternatively he would have done more rehabilitation work in the build-up (he had a schedule of rehabilitation work after suffering an injury in an ODI series v South Africa, but he had to miss a lot of this schedule), but understandably the whole cricket world willed him to play in this match.

I thought I'd never say I am pleased Australia won a test. What is even more heartening at this still difficult time is Sean Abbott's form under the circumstances.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Hey Clarkey,get your act sorted son,get fit and your ass on that field of dreams at Sophia for the first Test next summer.I didn't pay all that money for you to wimp out.

If he is done due to injury which he seems to be picking up more of the older he gets it will be another sad day for cricket in general (not just Aussie cricket), the guys a battler so I fully expect him to be out there on day one of the Ashes next year.

An injury after all he's been through of late would finish many a man off with the game but this cobbers got real Aussie grit built into his DNA.

The many reports and tributes on MTWD had a profound effect on many.
However, I have made these articles non sticky as we like the rest of the cricket world move on.

We will never forget Phillip Hughes and going to cricket will never be the same again for me.

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Well,i think, at our first game of season, the first Middlesex player to reach 63 should get a huge round of applause as a fitting tribute to Phillip.

Quote:

BeefyRoberts
Well,i think, at our first game of season, the first Middlesex player to reach 63 should get a huge round of applause as a fitting tribute to Phillip.

Assuming that there is one.

I'm just saying...


Adelaide

I would have thought therewould be a minute's silence - or at least some form of tribute - prior to day one of Middlesex's opening County Championship match of the season v Nottinghamshire at Lord's on Saturday 12th April. It would give people an opportunity to reflect that roughly six years previously, Phillip Hughes embarked on what was expected to be a short and probably forgettable stint with Middlesex, but what actually turned out to be prosperous and memorable four weeks

Glamorgan have said they plan to honour Hughes when Sophia Gardens hosts the opening Test of the 2015 Ashes.

I understand the Middlesex room will have a on the window of shop. Middlesex shirts for sale with Phillip's name and no. 63 I feel would be fitting and would be up for purchasing.

We will long remember a highly promising batsman whose career and life was so tragically cut short in its prime.

For those Middlesex members who were so fortunate to watch him score a début century for our club in 2009, it is particularly poignant. How often do we see a pair of 20-year-old opening batsmen such as Hughes and Godleman in action?

May you rest in peace Phil.

The Cricketer monthly magazine fittingly remembered Phillip. However, I thought it would have been a more appropriate gesture to have his picture on front cover rather a random picture based on the Ashes.

I was touched by what I read on letters page. I quote part of it from fan at Edgbaston test which he was dropped for. " He was there unmistakably tracksuited with coffee in hand, soaking in the atmosphere and talking to anyone who wanted to pass the time. This was a man who suffered an early jolt in his test career and instead of hiding away he was comfortable in mixing with a partisan crowd. His professional disappointment masked by an easy-going approach -a glimpse of his own inner fan who had made it to the top"

Continue to Rest In Peace our dear never forgotten Phillip Hughes

Barmy Kev
I'm only here for the tele

Nick Compton and Neil D'Costa - who was Phillip Hughes's agent - have paid tribute to Hughes in The Daily Telegraph.

On the subject D'Costa, I remember he got Hughes into trouble when he administered a Twitter account on behalf of Hughes and informed the world of Hughes's omission for the third Test of the 2009 Ashes before Cricket Australia announced the line-up. I think the account remained online for a couple of years subsequent to that before being deactivated.

Yes JW. A very moving article by Nick Compton. A very good read.

There will be a range of tributes to Phillip Hughes at Tuesday's final Test between Australia and India, which will take place at the SCG where Hughes suffered his fatal injury.

A permanent plaque and bust of Hughes will be unveiled, 63 bats will be temporarily fixed to the Pavilion and an exhibition of the tributes will take place at the SCG Museum.

Australia have had a couple of injuries during this series, and had things been different, there would have been a good chance of Hughes being brought back into the side, especially if that 63 not out became a century.

The plaque commemorating Phillip Hughes has been unveiled:

video: [url][/url]

Channel 9 has produced a video of Michael Clarke paying tribute to Phillip Hughes.

Quote:

Jonathan Winsky on 12th December
Sean Abbott ... has already played one ODI and three Twenty20 internationals for Australia, all of which came in the last two months [at the time of me writing this post], so it is very much within the realms of possibility that he can make further international appearances in his career

Sean Abbott was today crowned Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, which is voted for by Australian players, of whom 42% voted for him. This was by no means a token gesture to make him feel better after recent events, but is a reward for the form he has shown for New South Wales (14 first-class and 5 List A wickets) and my beloved Sydney Sixers (9 Twenty20 wickets). So, like I have said, I am confident he will once again be seen in an Australia shirt at some point in the future. Indeed, they seem to have selected a few fringe players during the ongoing triangular series involving England and India, so it is a bit of a surprise that Abbott hasn't had a go.