This is an article that no cricket writer in this world would want to write. This is an article that starts on a cricket field and ends in a hospital.
This article is about Phillip Joel Hughes, who died at a young age of 25 after being struck by a bouncer on his neck.
At a time when we should have been discussing about his technique, his form, his place in Australia’s Test squad and everything else related to his cricketing career, it’s agonizing that we are talking about Phil Hughes’s untimely and tragic demise.
At a time when we should have been talking about his bright, amazing smile, it’s agonizing that we are talking about the ball that struck on his neck and took his life.
We have always imagined heartbreaks in cricket to revolve around losing a match on the last ball, or a batsman getting out on 99. But, none of us would have ever thought that heartbreak in cricket would also mean mourning the death of a young talented batsman.
We have always used the word “teammates” while describing a marvelous win or a heartbreaking loss. But, none of us would have ever imagined that we will use this word while describing a tragic event in which a charismatic twenty five year old cricketer was taken off the field motionless on a stretcher by his “teammates”.
We have always talked about Phil Hughes as one of the most talented young batsmen who will make thousands of runs in Test cricket. But, none of us would have ever imagined that very soon we will be talking about his death.
Many of us would have searched Phillip Hughes’ stats on Wikipedia. But, none of us would have ever imagined that his Wikipedia page will have ’30 November 1988 – 27 November 2014′.
Phil Hughes’ tragic and untimely death has left the whole cricketing world mourning. His 63 not out and 408 Baggy Green will always be remembered by his fans and cricket lovers across the world.
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By Aniket Arora
