Phillip Hughes dies, aged 25

Hass wrote:Another option could be the trophy for the Australia v South Africa series. It still doesn't have a name and Hughes' greatest career moment unquestionably came against the Proteas.

That's just off the top of my head. There are probably more appropriate suggestions.

They mentioned something tonight about the best young cricketer from a country region.

Interesting to note that this was covered widely on CNN.

Devastating. RIP Phil.

RIP Phil. My deepest and heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.

Absolutely devastated by this extremely sad news. Cricketing world had hardly seen his full potential, could've achieved so much more. A very promising talent and a wonderful human life nipped in the bud.

Awful news. Feared the worst when I heard news reports about how many visitors he was getting.

Just heard on the radio that Abbott visited the hospital and spent a long time with Hughes family. Can't fathom how you deal with something like that.

Rip Phil Hughes.

Absolute tragedy.
Words right now are meaningless.

RIP Phillip Hughes.

Terrible news. RIP Phillip Hughes

Shocking. I think everyone wanted to believe he'd make it.

A small crumb of comfort perhaps is that he never regained consciousness, it is said, and hopefully suffered no more pain. But that is a crumb, a small one.

RIP Phil Hughes.

The focus switches to those closest to him, and also to those present at the accident. And I wish them every solace, strength and courage in an impossible situation.

Devastating. RIP.

Congratulations and gratitude to Jay, by the way, on the tribute at the top of the site. A prompt, classy gesture, I think.

I wholeheartedly agree. Ok, it made me gasp in horror as the worst case scenario had occurred. News of his condition was the only reason I logged on this morning

Same. Not ashamed to say this is the first time I think I've cried at the death of a sports person. Tragic beyond words.

Edit: Second time, momentarily forgot about Paul Hunter.

When I read JGK's post last night about them turning off the machines, I admit I choked up a bit. To see the news of his death was like a punch in the stomach. It's weird really, I didn't know him.

Wow. Perhaps naively, i still thought he would recover and then this morning i saw the news.

R.I.P.

Brass Monkey wrote:It's weird really, I didn't know him.

On the face of it perhaps, but on the other hand it's the biggest tragedy to ever hit the sport we have followed and loved since childhood. Put in that context it seems a fair reaction.

Words seem so insignificant in times like this.
R.I.P Phillip Hughes.

Words seem so insignificant in times like this.
R.I.P Phillip Hughes.

PeterCS wrote:Congratulations and gratitude to Jay, by the way, on the tribute at the top of the site. A prompt, classy gesture, I think.

Aye, grouse touch. [chokes back another tear].

Phillip Hughes

Forever 63 not out ...

Terrible times.

This is only a really small thing, but the family requests he be referred to as Phillip rather than Phil. Could we change the title of the thread as a mark of respect?

Brass Monkey wrote:When I read JGK's post last night about them turning off the machines, I admit I choked up a bit. To see the news of his death was like a punch in the stomach. It's weird really, I didn't know him.

It is not weird in the sense that according to those commuting from work today there were people crying in the streets who had obviously heard the news. While we don't know most of these sportspeople personally, they do appear in our lounge-rooms and are to some extent public property. Fans invest in them.

There is also something visceral concerning what happened. Most people have played or watched cricket even if only in the back yard or at the beach and it is something which unifies us on some level. Had Phil Hughes died in a car accident for instance people would have still been grief-stricken and mourned a life barely lived but to see him cut down in his prime plying the trade he and many others love is to witness the unimaginable. While people bay for blood from the stands during a fierce contest between bat and ball and the fear factor generated by hostile bowling is partly what adds to the mystique and intrigue of the game, nobody wants or expects this sort of tragic outcome. Many of the callers to radio who have been involved in our great sport are numb with shock. Most can't begin to know what his family and teammates are enduring.

great post, Red