Here are a few images from today’s events.
You may like to add a word or two below. I’m grateful to TFT reader Dan Splarn for sending us the following thoughts.
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When the cricketing historian comes to inspect the state of the game throughout this last calendar year, they won’t be impressed.
This was a year when brash, egotistical characters churned out spiteful indictments of their former employers to shift units at the book store. A year when players increasingly took to social media platforms to point the finger at their peers in “he started it, no he started it” playground bickering.
These last twelve months also witnessed a coveted 137-year old rivalry between two great adversaries seemingly spiral beyond the realm of sledging towards something altogether more ugly.
But to say the essence of this humble, gentleman’s game had evaporated completely would be to get carried away.
While those who shouted loudest continued to dominate the headlines, characters like Phillip Hughes acted as a welcome reminder that there’s always room in this great game for the genuinely good guys.
A clearly charming individual who seemed to have the knack for lighting up any dressing room he stepped inside, Hughes in many ways neatly personified that famously rugged Aussie spirit. It seems a long time ago now that a baby-faced 20-year old was storming on to the international scene; flaying Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Makyha Ntini to all parts of the ground on his way to a pair of centuries – in only his second Test Match.
Much has been written about Hughes’ subsequent topsy-turvy form, but to recover his level of performance to the point where he was on the fringes of a return to the test side speaks volumes for what this young man was all about.
Here was a man of steely determination. A man who – far from possessing a technique plucked from the coaching manual – strove to find a way of churning out runs in whatever way he could.
But most importantly this was a man who received glowing character references from anybody who crossed his path. As cricket lovers and people completely oblivious to the game alike join together to #puttheirbatsout for Hughesy, let’s take a second to admire the exemplary way in which this true gladiator adhered to the spirit of the game.
“For when the One Great Scorer comes to write against your name, he’ll mark, not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.”
Such a nice way to celebrate a great guy’s life. RIP Phil
Well put Dan, Phil certainly seems to have had a positive impact on the lives of many people.
I’d also add 2014 will be remembered as the year that the incompetent cricket boards and their respective fat cats cozied up to each other at the start of their journey to destroy the game that Phil and we take so much enjoyment from.
I hope Phil’s legacy will be one where players start to treat each other with respect on and off the field and cricket boards run the game for the benefit of its fans (not customers) as opposed to lining their own pocket.
RIP Hughesy
Even on such a sad day you couldn’t resist starting off by having a snipe at KP. Shame on you.
Hi May, completely understand where you are coming from. Would just like to try and clear this up on my part though.
First and foremost I realise this day is all about Phil Hughes.
I scribbled these thoughts down on Sunday – reacting to the year as a whole – and was trying to articulate that no matter what had happened throughout 2014, it all paled into complete and utter insignificance now.
Maybe I went about it the wrong way, but the intention was never to trivialise the events of the week or to take a cheap shot at somebody else at such a hugely inappropriate time.
I really hope this helps to clear things up a bit.
That was beautiful from Michael Clarke about “Let’s dig in and get through till tea”. It says so much about Phil Hughes that it was his oft-used expression, and it’s such a meaningful thought for all his friends and family right now.
Zepherine,
Totally agree. I watched the funeral in a café downstairs at work – surreally with subtitles and no sound. But even given that, I was struggling to keep it together and that line from Clarke did me in. I also loved the way he tied the spirit of Phil Hughes to the SCG, and hopefully gave us a way to think of the venue still as a cradle of cricket and not just the scene of an unspeakable tragedy.
Michael Clarke has carried himself like an absolute champion this week. He’s often annoyed me in the past by mouthing platitudes about “knowing where the line is” even as his team routinely crosses it – but his conduct this week has been above and beyond. His respect for the game, his affection for his “little brother” and, above all, his concern for Hughes’ family have been something to behold. An outstanding example of grace under pressure.
All,
New to posting here but have lurked for some time now. I have also made the odd comment on Dmitri’s blog. Thank you for such a wonderful and intelligent place to keep track of how the real England cricket fan feels,. I live far away these days and following my beloved sport is sometimes hard to do.
I just wanted to say a few words and they are after watching an amazing eulogy from Michael Clarke:
http://youtu.be/q4SKcrV2_RY
After drying up the tears it struck me. He understands what cricket is all about. From the village green all the way to test matches, cricketers share the same love of the sport the comradeship and the competitiveness which is sometimes quite brutal, but always left on the pitch and mended in the bar after the game.
I miss my cricket and will miss a character like Phil Hughes even more, but for me Michael Clarke epitomized the spirit of cricket and I can’t begin to describe the respect I now have for him.
Tom
Nice piece by Nick Compton:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cricket/30314910
Cricket has shown it’s a great sport at a time when, the game, and sport in general has come together to mourn the loss of a great talent, and by all accounts a top bloke.
I have huge admiration for Michael Clarke. A player that has had plenty of stick, from me included, but has shown what a great leader he is.
He has been groomed by Cricket Australia to be their captain, as a cricketer he has been coached and mentored by some of the greatest players to have played the game. However, the best compliment I can pay is that he has taken on a role he can never have been taught to do, and will never have wanted.
Michael has shown, strength, sensitivity, courage and a heart as big as the farm Phillip grew up on. The way in which he has spoken on behalf of the Hughes family, rallied in support of Sean Abbott, and will lead Australia in the 1st test shows what a real leader of men he is.
I for one will look forward to welcoming Michael during the Ashes next summer. Of course I want England to regain the Ashes, but I will always respect Michael for the strength and courage he has shown during this terrible time for Australian cricket.
RIP Phillip Hughes