Michael Clarke statement regarding Phillip Hughes

1 December, 2014

"Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now.

To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan, we share in the deep pain that you're feeling.

Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest playing cricket for his country with his mates

Things were always put into perspective when Hughesy said, 'Where else would you rather be boys but playing cricket for your country?'

We are going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye.

He epitomised what the baggy green is about and what it means to us all.

The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.

Our promise to the Hughes family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.

Last night I asked Cricket Australia if Hughesy's Australian one-day international shirt number, 64, could be retired, to which they agreed. It means so much.

His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.

We'd like to thank everyone, both here and overseas, for the touching tributes to Hughesy in recent days.

Our dressing room will never be the same.

We loved him and always will.

Rest in Peace, Brussy."

© Australian Cricket Players Limited
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
The Australian Cricketers’ Association acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders both past and present.