New book reveals more details about Phillip Hughes tragic death

Australian cricket was robbed of a talented young batsman after Philip Hughes’ untimely death. His loss dented the emotions of his teammates as the cricketing world mourned. A new book has revealed distressing details about Phillip Hughes and his death. Greg Hughes said that his son was ill the night before entering the match to bat for New South Wales against South Australia on 25th November last day.

Hughes was 63 not out when he was struck on the back of his neck by a rising Sean Abbott delivery. He was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney and was placed in an induced coma but died two days later having never regained consciousness.

Greg says in ‘Phillip Hughes: The Official Biography’ that his son was determined to play because there were reports a position in the Australian Test team could become available due to Michael Clarke’s hamstring troubles. “He wasn’t well,” Greg said. “But he was so determined to score runs. He’d thought he’d batted himself out of the Test team when he didn’t make runs in the previous match, but now it was clear that Clarkey was struggling with his hamstring, Phillip knew how important this match was, and he saw that bigger picture.”

David Warner, Hughes former teammate during his 26-match Test career, was in the field for NSW on that tragic day. “He was making a statement, he was going to go big. He was sick the night before, he was sick that morning, but he had to play because there was a Test match around the corner.”Warner is quoted as saying in the book.

Further detail in the book reveals how close Hughes was to regaining his place in the Australian side. Authors Malcolm Knox and Peter Lalor retell a conversation that occurred between South Australian coach Darren Berry and Test selector Mark Waugh during the game at the SCG.

“How’s Hughesy going?” Waugh asked Berry. “He’s not looking that good against the short ball,” Berry replied: “He never does, but I’ll put my house on him making a century today.”

When Waugh indicated Hughes was a good chance to be selected if Clarke was unavailable, Berry said: “Just stick with him for a few Tests.”

Chairman of the national selection panel Rod Marsh revealed the long-term plan for Hughes’s Test future. “It became obvious to all and sundry that he would replace Chris Rogers as Warner’s opening partner (in the future), that was the master plan going forward. I think that was the way it was going to be. We were very confident he would have a long and successful Test match career.

NSW and South Australian players quoted in the book reveal the reason behind Hughes being targeted with short-pitch bowling during the innings, including Redbacks batsman Tom Cooper who was at the other end when the fateful ball was bowled.

Tom Cooper said, “The boys from NSW hated playing him because he always churned out runs against them, he told the coach there’s no way I am getting out to that and that is why they started bouncing him. He didn’t look like getting out any other way and that’s why they went to that short plan. We were joking about that, saying, ‘What is this? How am I meant to score runs if they are going to bowl there?’ They did it for quite a while and that was why he started trying a few pull shots. They were just trying to stop him scoring.”