Cricket Australia (CA) is set to honour Phillip Hughes on his 10th death anniversary.
CA has decided to fly flags at half-mast and players in the Sheffield Shield competition will be wearing black armbands to honour the former Australian cricketer.
The commemorations for Hughes will begin with the next round of the Sheffield Shield matches from November 23. Hughes passed away on November 27, 2024 after being struck on the neck by a bouncer during the domestic match at the SCG who was just days away from celebrating his 26th birthday.
His death remains as one of the darkest moments in Australia sport and the 10th anniversary serves as an emotional milestone for those who knew him personally and professionally.
Officials have opted to use the Adelaide Test of the Border Gavaskar trophy as the best time to celebrate Hughes with the national team, while sharing their plans with his family.
He passing will be marked when that match begins on December 06, almost to the day since Test cricket resumed in Australia after Hughes’ death.
“We understand this will be a time of reflection for the many people who knew and admired Phillip Hughes,” said Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
“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’ passing sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and his death left a profound mark on the game. Hughes had been in line for a recall to the Australian team after a strong performance in domestic cricket.
His tragic death left the cricketing community grappling with how to move forward, but it is also brought significant changes to player safety, including improvement in head and neck protection.
Hughes was posthumously named Australia’s 13th man for the first test in Adelaide following his death, where 63 seconds of applause were observed before play.
