Phillip Hughes – The tragic death that shocked the cricketing world

Phillip Hughes, who was one of the most promising cricketers for Australia, was tragically killed by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield game on November 27, 2014 and this incident shocked the cricketing world.

Phillip Hughes died on November 25, 2014 days before his 26th birthday. (Image credit: Twitter)
By Siddharth vishwanathan | Nov 27, 2021 | 4 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

It was supposed to be yet another tough encounter in Australia’s premier First-Class competition. The Sheffield Shield encounter between New South Wales and South Australia was expected to be a curtain-raiser for players who would be selected in the upcoming series against India. There was David Warner, Phillip Hughes, and several other Australian players who had played international cricket. Hughes was aiming to make a comeback into the Australian team after an inconsistent couple of years.

Hughes had batted brilliantly at the Sydney Cricket Ground as he raced to 63 not out. Armed with his unorthodox technique, Hughes put on a magnificent exhibition of batting. Then, in a moment that shocked the cricketing world, disaster struck. Sean Abbott, the bowler, bowled a bouncer at 135 kmph. Hughes was slightly late on the pull shot and was hit on the side of the neck by the ball. The batsman was stunned and he crouched low. Shockingly, he then stumbled to the ground face first.

At first glance, it looked like something was terribly wrong. Hughes was immediately taken to hospital. The game was suspended.

The death of Phillip Hughes

Hughes suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and did not regain consciousness at the hospital. On November 27, 2014, Hughes died at the age of 25. For the first time in close to 25 years, the cricketing world had been jolted by the death of a player. In 1991, India player Raman Lamba was playing in the Bangladesh domestic competition. Lamba was standing at short leg when a batsman pulled a ball and it hit Lamba on the temple. Although he walked off the field, his health deteriorated and after a few days, he died.

What made Hughes’ death even more painful? The fact that it occurred live during a Cricket Australia streaming of a match perhaps added to the horror. The sight of Hughes falling down at the pitch still sends shivers across the spine of a lot of fans and players.

The cricketing world grieves the death of Hughes

From his humble origins in the town of Macksville where his family owned a banana farm, Hughes had made great strides in Australian cricket. His talent shone to the fore in 2009 when he became the youngest to hit centuries in both innings of a Test match. The left-hander achieved the feat in Durban against an attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, and Makhaya Ntini. The audacity of Hughes was such that he immediately became a fan favorite. But, his unorthodox technique was often found out by England and they ruthlessly exploited it. In List A and ODI cricket, Hughes achieved some great records. He became the first Australian to score a century on debut in ODIs. Hughes also blasted a double hundred in List A cricket, making him the first to the record.

The plethora of emotions that were on display on December 3 would have melted even the strongest of hearts. At the funeral, Australian and Indian players were in attendance. Michael Clarke, the former Australia skipper who considered Hughes his best friend and brother, was emotional right from the time the death was announced. Sean Abbott, who had bowled the bouncer, wrote on the cricket ball, “I am sorry, Phil”.

The reaction from across the globe was emotional. Pakistan vs New Zealand Test at Sharjah was suspended for one day. When the match resumed, New Zealand bowlers decided not to bowl a bouncer. The India series was also rescheduled with some modifications. However, one particular trend became vital. In a lot of homes, fans put out a bat with a cap on top. It was a tribute to Hughes.

Cricket changes in the wake of the death

The bat outside the house with a cap was a poignant tribute to Hughes. But, apart from that, there were some changes that were going to take place. Helmets were designed in a new way. The new addition to the cricket helmet was installing a neck guard that would protect the batsmen from bouncers. At another level, there was a debate on whether the bouncer should be deemed illegal.

However, that was put on the backburner. The shocking realization for fans and players was that a cricket ball has the potential to kill someone. No longer was avoiding bouncers a matter of fun. It was a game of life and death. That was the dynamic that had dominated in the aftermath.

Hughes was named as the unofficial 16th player in the Australia squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup. When Australia won the trophy, they dedicated the award to him. Cricket Australia retired his ODI jersey number and his Baggy Green No 408. Hughes’ final score was 63 not out and he would forever remain on that number. For some time, when a player got to 63, he would look up to the sky and pay tribute to Hughes.

The cricket world was briefly jolted by the death of Hughes. Seven years on, it still remains fresh in the minds of many fans. It was perhaps the saddest moment in the history of the game.





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