Australia cricketers to raise toast to 'absent friend' Phillip Hughes at the Adelaide Oval

It was on November 25 five years ago that Australia international batsman Phillip Hughes met a fatal consequence while batting in a domestic game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Opening for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match and scoring a fifty, the 25-year-old was hit on the neck by a delivery from New South Wales pacer Sean Abbott and he went in a coma. Two days later, the talented cricketer passed away, leaving the cricketing fraternity shocked.

Hughes’ Australian mates, including the then captain Michael Clarke, were in tears as a result of this incident. Just three days short of turning 26, Hughes suffered a brain haemorrhage and died while in coma. The southpaw had played 26 Tests, 25 ODIs and one T20I at that time and had five international hundreds.

On the fifth anniversary of one of the most shocking incidents in modern-day cricket that improved players’ safety standards, Australian cricketers took time to remember their late colleague. Head coach Justin Langer said in a video that was posted by cricket.com.au, “Time flies. I still remember, one of the worst days of our life, and we’ll toast absent friends today. I’m sure we will talk about it today when we get to the Adelaide Oval.”

“How lucky we are to be playing cricket, representing our country, being in Adelaide, being at the Adelaide Oval — they’re always nice reminders. I’m sure that’s what Hughesy would like too. He will be smiling down on us somewhere going ‘just remember, you have got it pretty good you boys’.”

Australia take on Pakistan in the second Test in Adelaide next

Australia are in the middle of a good run after a disappointing last two years. They recently whacked Sri Lanka and Pakistan in back-to-back T20I series and thumped the latter by an innings and five runs in the first Test in Brisbane. The second Test, which is a day-night affair, will take place in Adelaide from November 29.

Langer, who has seen the Kangaroos through the ups and downs, said Adelaide Oval has a beautiful picture of Hughes in the changing room and that the late cricketer is always alive in his teammates’ thoughts. Adelaide is the home ground for South Australia where Hughes had played his last completed match between November 16 and 19, 2014.

“There’s a beautiful picture of Hughesy in the change rooms here. After we had our debriefing (after, and we toasted absent friends. Like we do every time we walk into the change room,” the Australia coach added.

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