Phillip Hughes’ funeral underway at Macksville; Clarke, Finch to be pallbearers

Mangalore Today News Network

Macksville, Dec 03, 2014:  Funeral service of departed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes is underway at his hometown of Mackville. Read all the live updates here

 

Clarke breaks down as he ends his tribute by saying, "We must dig in and get through to tea. Rest in peace my little brother, I’ll see you out in the middle."
    
Australian captain Michael Clarke is now delivering his tribute to Phillip Hughes. This must be tough on him. Clake already has a lump in his throat and he hasn’t even begun.
    
Corey Ireland, Phil’s close friend, paying tribute to his mate ’Hughesy’ and their shared love of cattle. He says, "He would add a new cow to his herd every time he got a 100, the herd grew quite quickly".
    
Megan, Phil’s sister speaks about her brother. She along with her mother were at SCG when the left-hander was struck by Sean Abbott’s bouncer. She concludes her eulogy by saying, "Until next time, I love you big brother".
    
"I couldn’t have asked for a better little brother" - Jason Hughes (Phil’s brother)
    
Funeral service of Phil Hughes got underway with ’Forever Young’ playing in the background.
    
Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle arrives in Coffs Harbour with the Australian cricket team. The team will have a police escort to Macksville where they will join captain Michael Clarke, who has been on the NSW north coast since Monday, as per reports. Michael Clarke’s wife pays tribute to Phillip Hughes, says ’We love you hugh dog’. Captioning an image of herself, her husband, and Hughes, Kyly Clarke farewelled their friend on Instagram.

Australia will come to a standstill today, as some 5,000 mourners are scheduled to pack the Macksville High School auditorium to pay a final tribute to cricketer Phillip Hughes, News Nine reported. Prime Minister Tony Abbott is also due to attend the service at which Clarke, who was by Hughes` bedside as he lay stricken in a Sydney hospital, will speak in tribute and join family members and fellow Australia batsman Aaron Finch as a pallbearers.
    
According to Cricket Australia, the entire Test squad and the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be in attendance, along with greats like Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Sir Richard Hadlee, Dean Jones, Shane Warne, Mike Hussey, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Brett Lee and Damien Martyn.
    
Immediately following the service there will be a guard of honour on Park Street, which is adjacent to the school hall. According to reports, close family members and a select few cricketers will walk a short distance to the Macksville Ex-Services Club. Hughes’ family have booked out the venue and it will be a private event. The family has declined to say where Hughes will be buried.

 

Courtesy: Zeenews