Sydney The cricket world was in mourning on Thursday following the death of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, who died in a Sydney hospital, two days after being hit in the head by a ball.
A game that is synonymous with the values of fair play and sportsmanship was left heart-broken at the loss of one its favourite sons, a kid from a banana plantation who dared to dream big.
That he died surrounded by his family and friends after being injured playing the game he loved, provided little solace to the millions of people that follow cricket.
“It’s an understatement to say we’re completely devastated,” Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland told reporters.
“The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is a real life tragedy.” Australia’s pain was shared by the cricketing world. Cricket, perhaps more than most other sports, is played by a tight-knit community.
Only a handful of countries play the game professionally and opposing players spend months together, often dining and drinking together after matches.
Rarely has cricket been more united than now, the game’s saddest day.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Australia’s players were in tears as they filed out of St Vincent’s hospital after bidding farewell to their fallen team mate.
The Indian team, currently on tour in Australia, cancelled their two-day practice match that was due to start on Friday. In Dubai, Pakistan and New Zealand aborted the second day of their test match, the players too distraught to take the field.
At Lord’s, the traditional home of cricket, flags were flown at half mast, a tribute that was replicated at stadiums around the world.
“For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration,” Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said.
The 25-year-old had been in an induced come for two days after being struck by a bouncer from Sean Abbott at the Sydney Cricket Ground in a domestic encounter.
The ball hit him on the side of his neck, compressing his vertebral artery and causing it to split, forcing blood into the brain area.
Doctors removed parts of his skull during the operation but the damage was too severe and he never regained consciousness.
“This was a freakish accident because it was an injury to the neck that caused haemorrhage in the brain,” Cricket Australia doctor Peter Brukner said. “The condition is incredibly rare.” His death will undoubtedly raise questions about safety standards in the game. Hughes was wearing a helmet but the ball slipped through a tiny gap between his shoulder and the base of his protective hard hat.
Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar said he was shocked to hear of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes’ death, calling it a “sad day for cricket”.
“Shocked to hear about Phil. Sad day for cricket,” said Tendulkar, who played alongside the 25-year-old in the Indian Premier League.
“Deepest condolences to family, friends and well wishers. RIP,” Tendulkar said on Twitter of his former Mumbai Indians teammate.
