Australian captain Michael Clarke paid an emotional tribute to Phillip Hughes at the deceased cricketer’s funeral, which took place at his hometown Macksville today (December 3). Hughes died on Thursday after being hit by a bouncer while representing South Australia in a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 25.
Clarke said: “I don’t know about you, but I keep looking for him. I know it’s crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him. Or to see his face pop around the corner. Is this what we call the spirit? If so, then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves.” (Watch the full video below)
“I walked in the middle of the SCG on Thursday night. Those same blades of grass beneath my feet where he and I and so many of his mates here today have built partnerships, taken chances and lived out the dreams we painted in our heads as boys. The same stands where the crowds rose to their feet to cheer him on and that same fence he sent the ball to time and time again.
"Telling me off for that loose shot I'd played, chatting about what movie we'd watch that night, and then passing on a useless fact about cows. I could see him swagger back to the other end, grin at the bowler, then call me through for a run with such a booming voice a bloke in the car park could hear it.
“And it’s now forever the place where he fell.
"Is this what people indigenous people believe about the spirit of a person being connected on the land he walked? If so, they're right about SCG. His spirit has touched it, and it will forever be a safer place for me.
“This is what makes our game the greatest game in the world. Phillip’s spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love. We must listen to it, we must cherish it, we must learn from it, we must dig in, ... we... must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on. So rest in peace, my little brother, I’ll see you out in the middle.”
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