No.64 will forever by associated with the talent cricketer, who passed away on Thursday
At the request of Test captain Michael Clarke and his international team-mates, Cricket Australia has retired the number 64 that the recently departed Phil Hughes donned while playing the one-day game.
Hughes passed away on Thursday following a tragic accident in a club game when he was struck in the neck by a bouncer. Clarke paid tribute to Hughes today and announced the gesture from the national body that Hughes represented with pride on the world stage.
Here is Clarke’s statement in full: ‘Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now. To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan (Hughes’ immediate family), we are sharing the deep pain that you are feeling.
‘Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest playing cricket for his country with his mates. Things were always put in perspective when Hughesy said, “Where else would you rather be, boys, but playing cricket for your country?”
‘We’re going to miss that cheeky grin and the twinkle in his eye. He epitomised what the Baggy Green is about and what it means to us all. The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.’
The statement continues, ‘Our promise to Hughesy’s family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory. Last night I asked Cricket Australia if Hughesy’s one-day international shirt number, 64, could be retired, to which they agreed. That means so much.
‘His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives. We’d like to thank everyone both here and overseas for the touching tributes to Hughesy in recent days.
‘Our dressing-room will never be the same. We loved him and always will. Rest in peace, bruzzy.’
