Australian captain Michael Clarke has put pen to paper in a heartfelt tribute to his friend, team-mate and “brother” Phillip Hughes after his tragic passing on Thursday.
In a piece for The Sunday Telegraph, Clarke celebrated Hughes’s 26th birthday by reflecting on his life on and off the field, describing him as “one of life’s true characters and gentlemen”.
“His cricketing achievements – of which there were many – really play second fiddle to the human qualities that he exhibited,” Clarke wrote.
“Loyal to a fault, eternally optimistic, kind hearted, wicked sense of humour, a child like verve for life … I really could go on and on.
“I met him as a boy of 17, when he came down to Sydney from Macksville to play for my club Western Suburbs.
“I was drawn to him instantly, falling for his cheeky grin and love of life. Phillip truly was uncomplicated – what you saw was what you got.”
Mamamia’s gallery of the touching photos shared by Michael Clarke on his Instagram yesterday (post continues after gallery):
Clarke talked of Hughes’s country upbringing, describing his parents Greg and Virginia as “salt of the earth Aussies”, and recounted his love of life on the farm.
” I remember the last time we batted together. We would meet in the middle of the pitch and I would be asking him whether the ball was moving in the air or off the deck,” Clarke remembered.
“All he could do was talk about his cattle. What that man didn’t know about cows wasn’t worth knowing.
Top Comments
I know I'm going to get savaged for this but enough is enough. For days on end the media have been reporting this "tragedy" and overdoing it.
It was a terrible accident, not a tragedy. He was playing cricket for Christ sake, not fighting in Iraq!
It's completely out of kilter, a terrible very sad accident but it's been blown way out of proportion.
Australia's obsession with sport is perturbing.
Wow! If dying at such a young age doing what you love infront of your teammates, family, friends and supporters isn't a tragedy then god bless your cold soul. RIP HUGHSEY XXX
Around 400 people per day die in Australia. A great many of the deaths are tragic, many of them are young people, even children. Almost all of them sad for someone.
I wonder if the accidental death of a cancer researcher would receive this level of blanket news coverage. I suspect not, and I find myself asking why that is.
I would think it's fairly obvious. A person's death is broadcast and mourned within their community and if you were loved by one person or millions of people your loss is still just as sad.
Please stop. We've already read this on a dozen other sites, just as we've read everything else you post. Mia hatred of sport is well documented. Every time another Phillip Hughes tribute pops up here I puke in my mouth.
I think you need to "stop"!
Stop and have a good hard look at yourself and try to do better!
This has nothing at all to do with Mia's (or anyone else's) dislike of sport and everything to do with the very sad fact that a young man lost his life and his death has affected many people, whether they were cricket fans or not.
I myself NEVER watch any sport but I feel absolutely heartbroken for Phillip Hughes' family, friends and team mates and I am sure that they don't want us all to stop reading tributes for him.
Stop being so heartless.
I'm just wondering who was holding the gun to your head to force you to read the article. Oh no, it's so much more satisfying to mock the genuine grief of people like Michael Clarke so you can feel a sense of superiority. You're so much better for it. Well done.
I also have shed many tears for Phillip and his family. This is not about Phillip. It's about Mamamia constantly repeating news from other sites. Sites that have paid journalists, editors, technical staff, printers, photographers etc to produce. Taking it from the ABC sites is even worse! The taxpayer has paid for the story by Mia profits from it. It's not on.
Nobody forced you to click into the article. Everyone can question the media coverage of death I'm sure - but this is not something to question or mock. This is a piece written by a man who has lost one of his dearest friends. It is his one moment where he can say his personal feelings - as opposed to having to "do your job" (which he whispered to himself at the press conference yesterday when he was finding it too difficult to go one). I'll be honest - I hate watching cricket. I really do. But this horrific accident has affected myself and so many people I know. I've also been mourning the sudden death of a friend who passed this week. It was also sudden. If people feel a sense of grief - there is nothing wrong with that. Grief is a significant emotion. It is also an emotion that can bring people together - and I've been heartened by the signs of tribute to Hughes this week. Nobody is forcing you to agree with the opinion. Just like nobody forced you to click to read the article.