Cricket Australia will fly flags at half-mast and black armbands will return to players’ uniforms as the sport prepares to mark the 10-year anniversary of Phillip Hughes’ death.
Saturday’s Sheffield Shield round will begin two weeks of commemorations for Hughes, whose life was tragically cut short days before his 26th birthday in 2014.
Officials have adopted a uniform approach across the board, with Hughes’ former team South Australia to face Western Australia in Adelaide from Saturday.
Hughes’ childhood team NSW will also host Tasmania at the SCG from Sunday, while Queensland and Victoria play at the Gabba.
Players will wear black armbands in all three games, while a moment’s silence will also be observed before play on day four of all matches.
For the Sydney and Brisbane matches, Wednesday’s final day of play will coincide with the 10-year anniversary of Hughes’ death on November 27, 2014.
Officials have opted to use the Adelaide Test between Australia and India as the best time to celebrate Hughes with the national team, while sharing their plans with his family.
His passing will be marked when that match begins on December 6, almost 10 years to the day since Test cricket resumed in Australia after Hughes’ death.
CA has filmed a documentary in conjunction with Hughes’ family to mark the occasion, which will be broadcast before play in that Test.
Many column inches have also already been dedicated to the opener, who played 26 Tests for Australia and was earmarked as a long-term fixture in the side.
“We understand this will be a time of reflection for the many people who knew and admired Phillip Hughes,” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.
“We wanted to ensure that the Hughes family, particularly, were comfortable with any commemorations and that we celebrate Phillip’s life and incredible achievements appropriately.”
Hughes’ death two days after he was struck in the neck by a ball at the SCG in 2014 remains one of the most difficult periods in cricket history.
The Macksville junior was one of the most popular members of the national team, and remains close to the heart of several Australian players.
Off the field, his legacy remains strong, with Hughes’ family still involved in his Angus cattle farm Four 0 Eight on the NSW north coast.
Cricket initially found itself at a loss of how to play on, with Hughes having been set to bat his way back into the Australian team when not out on 63 at the SCG.
He was posthumously named as Australia’s 13th man for the rejigged first Test in Adelaide, where 63 seconds of applause were observed before play.
