Late Hughes Honoured With Tribute At Adelaide Oval

Adelaide, A year on from his tragic passing, the life of batsman Phillip Hughes was remembered with a touching video tribute and a minute’s silence at the Adelaide Oval on the opening day of the first day-night cricket Test between Australia and New Zealand here on Friday. 

At 4.08 p.m. local time – timed to coincide with Hughes’ Baggy Green cap number 408 – the video tribute was played as the stadium stood in sombre silence to remember the fallen batsman.

The first day of the historic day-night Test also marked the first anniversary of left-hand batsman Hughes’ death, which came two days after he was struck by a ball in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), Cricket Australia reported.

At the request of Hughes’ family, commemorations were low-key at Adelaide Oval. Both sides are wearing black arm bands as were the players contesting three Shield games around Australia that also started on Friday.

“Obviously it’s a tough time for his family and his friends and we respect that. Hopefully we can have a good week for Phillip. A year on we still have Hughesy at the back of our minds every time we walk out onto the field. We’re going to be doing our best to play with a smile on our face and hopefully play well for Hughesy,” Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

New Zealand were playing a Test against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates when the Hughes tragedy unfolded. The second day’s play of that match was abandoned following Hughes’ death with New Zealand players visibly distressed when the Test resumed.

“It’s not going to be an easy time for anyone involved. We’ll take the lead from the Aussie guys on it and be respectful as we possibly can be. I’m sure it will be a nice tribute and everyone will be pretty comfortable with it,” New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said.