Phillip Hughes dies, aged 25

That is simply disrespectful & disgraceful. Very poor form by the national broadcaster.

All OK for discussion I guess if only the naming mistake hadn't occurred.

I like Lardy's second suggestion. Not only a memorial, but potentially entertaining and functionally useful, too.
And a game in its own right.

"Entertaining", because I don't think the solemn mourning can or should go on indefinitely. Elements of an exhibition match, yet with a useful "proving" element for the young names, seems to me an eminent & eminently sensible decision for CA to take.

Whereas option 2 - perhaps this is just me? - almost incurs on the main FC season in a rather strange way. Wouldn't that slightly suggest all the other (unnamed) matches assume slightly less significance? And is NSW v SA ALWAYS the first or last match of the season (or the main part of it, prior to the final), as things stand? It would have to be anchored there if arranged as Lardy says: hence my "incursive", which I don't think is the best positioning or use of a memorial.

I am not sure the name of Phillip Hughes, tragic as his young death was, and is, should in a sense "rule" the Shield competition in perpetuity.

It would be better, I think (FWIW) to have a particular, independent match.

Pete:

'SCOTT MASON MATCH'

The TAS v VIC Shield match played annually in Hobart

So there is at least one precedent for the Phil Hughes NSW v SA Shield match suggestion; I believe David Hookes is honoured in one of the VIC v SA matches each year as well.

Ah okay. Apols for my ignorance!

Having said that, I prefer the idea of a dedicated exhibition match in his memory as well, as a season closer ... to remind everybody that cricket is a game which we are lucky to enjoy through play or observation, and that there are far more important things in life.

lardbucket wrote:I believe David Hookes is honoured in one of the VIC v SA matches each year as well.

I thought it was for both Shield matches?

It would also depend on what the Hughes family wants. Perhaps they wouldn't want a big overblown memorial match every year, reigniting pain that was starting to subside slightly.

Perhaps a single, understated plaque at the SCG would be enough.

lardbucket wrote:Having said that, I prefer the idea of a dedicated exhibition match in his memory as well, as a season closer ... to remind everybody that cricket is a game which we are lucky to enjoy through play or observation, and that there are far more important things in life.

I like the idea...a share of the gate to support young men and women cricketers...perhaps to add some of PH's spirit and love of the game ...slashes through point to the boundary could be awarded 5 instead of a four

Story on Gambhir, but briefly relevant:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ranji-trophy-2014-15/content/story/808185.html

If you plant something to honour Phillip Hughes, it should always be a cutting.

http://www.cricketnsw.com.au/news/news-archive/2014/12/8/nsw-players-to-pay-tribute-to-phillip-hughes

The NSW Blues and Lend Lease Breakers will pay tribute to Phillip Hughes by wearing “PJH 707” on their playing shirts for the remainder of the summer.

Hughes was the 707th man to wear the Baggy Blue cap.

The Kiwis will have PJHc243b211 on their shirts

embee wrote:The Kiwis will have PJHc243b211 on their shirts

Heh, nice.

skully wrote:

beamer wrote:Would we have seen the same response had it been an English player of similar standing? In terms of the response within the world of cricket the nationality of the player is irrelevant, but I'm not sure the general public here has quite the same connection with cricket as is the case in Australia.

Excellent post, beams. None in Aus would expect this tragedy to have the same impact overseas as it has in our country, and thus outside views of "OTT" are completely understandable. Most watching in Australia yesterday afternoon would've been largely rivetted by the grief of those present and listened to every word of the rather endless tributes. I defy any Aussie not to be overcome and at least choke back a tear or two at the shots of the grieving parents, the struggles of those speaking, and the tears in the large attending masses.

I've been trying to think of a similar player to Hughes from England. A prodigy who didn't quite deliver. None of a similar Test longevity (20+ Tests) comes to mind, although I did think of Mark Lathwell. He was prodigious for a couple of seasons, had an unconvenional technique but was sorted out very quickly by Big Merv.

Perhaps our English colleagues can think of an appropriate comparison to Phillip Hughes, and how his passing may have affected your nation?

This from Cricinfo sums it up pretty well:

That a staunchly middle-class supermarket [Waitrose] currently sponsors the England team says pretty much all you need to know about the game on these shores. As Mike Atherton observed, the grief that engulfed Australia in the wake of Hughes' "one in a billion" death is unimaginable here, much less the rise of a backwoods boy to national hero.

So maybe in time this will be put in perspective. There is no doubt that this is a tragic incident, probably because it happened on the field of play. I somehow think that if it occurred off field, say a car smash, this massive outpouring of grief would have been somewhat tempered.

About two months the national football captain of SA was killed in an attempted robbery. We had a similar outpouring here, football games were cancelled for a week or so. It probably didn't hit the worldwide papers the same way, but it wasn't any less tragic. I see he is now now being nominated for an African player of the year award. Would this have happened without his death? I don't know.

Once again, Hughes death was tragic, but let's all be aware of over reaction. To me, Archie Jackson would have been a greater loss to Australia. West Indians probably feel the same about Collie Smith. Most countries have similar stories.

So let this this test be a memorial to Hughes and let's get back to cricket.

It does seem to be heading that way Taips.

Hughes's older brother Jason returned to grade cricket and scored... 63. Not a symbolic retirement or anything, in fact he didn't even realise what he had scored.

Nice.

Wait what?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-26/cricket-australia-trademarks-63-not-out/5989074

tricycle wrote:Wait what?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-26/cricket-australia-trademarks-63-not-out/5989074

So any batsman who finishes an innings on 63 n.o. will in breach of copyright laws?

tricycle wrote:Wait what?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-26/cricket-australia-trademarks-63-not-out/5989074

its to stop exploitation of hughes death. i dont have a problem with it

Big Dog wrote:

tricycle wrote:Wait what?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-26/cricket-australia-trademarks-63-not-out/5989074

So any batsman who finishes an innings on 63 n.o. will in breach of copyright laws?

Probably has Hughes name in front of it or about it. You could trademark "sexy" as long as you were connecting it to a brand of something (something would probably have to be unsexy though).

RIP.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-05/plaque-commemorating-phillip-hughes-placed-at-scg/6000836