Cricket NSW Chairman John Warn and Chief Executive Andrew Jones have expressed their deepest sympathy to the Hughes family following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes today aged 25.
“The entire NSW cricket community offers our heartfelt condolences to Phillip’s mother and father Virginia and Greg, sister Megan and brother Jason at this most difficult of times,” Mr Warn said.
“Their grief is being felt across the country and around the cricket world as the extended cricket family comes to terms with the sad loss of a very popular and talented young player.
“Phillip touched so many people playing for NSW, Australia, South Australia, county cricket in England and the IPL in India.
“A lovable, quiet and affectionate young man from the farming community of Macksville, Phillip has left an indelible impression on the game as a player and a person.”
Mr Jones said the NSW players and staff were thinking of Phillip’s family.
“So many in the NSW cricket family know Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan personally. It is tragic that Phillip has been taken from them so young. He reflected their strong country values and warmth as a loving, caring family.
“Phillip is fondly remembered as a bright and cheeky young man with an infectious smile who emerged as an outstanding junior more than a decade ago. Like so many NSW and Australian players before him, Phillip moved to Sydney to play Grade Cricket and found a home at Western Suburbs.
“He rose quickly through the ranks, debuting for NSW and scoring a century in a Sheffield Shield final at 19.
“For all his good humour he took cricket very seriously and always worked tremendously hard at his game.
“Despite being in and out of the Australian team during his emerging years Phillip never complained when he was dropped or overlooked. He always focused on making himself a better player.
“It was typical of Phillip that he was fighting his way back into the national team again with a fine innings for South Australia against NSW at the SCG last Tuesday before suffering a freak accident.
“Phillip had already scored 26 first class centuries and his best cricket was ahead of him. It is unspeakably sad he cannot now achieve his potential in the game.”
From 2007 to 2012 Phillip Hughes played 37 Sheffield Shield matches for NSW scoring 3288 runs at an average of 53 with 10 centuries. He also played 30 one-day matches for the state, making 994 runs at 38.
Cricket NSW asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected.
