Phillip Hughes died 10 years ago (Image: Getty)
Ben Stokes has taken a moment to remember that there are “bigger things than results” as the cricket world marks a decade since the tragic death of Phil Hughes.
The Australian batter was only 25 when he succumbed to injuries after being struck on the back of the neck by a bouncer during a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on November 27, 2014.
Since Hughes’ death, safety in the sport has been ramped up; players now commonly wear neck guards and new concussion protocols have been introduced, with the allowance for replacement players.
On the eve of England’s first Test in New Zealand, Stokes paid tribute to Hughes, saying: “It was an incredibly sad moment for cricket. Something like that happening out on the field is something that you just never thought would happen.
“It’s such a sad thing to think about someone out on the field doing what they love being so unfortunate to lose their life.
File photo of Phil Hughes batting for Australia (Chris Ison/PA) (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)
“I didn’t know Phil Hughes particularly well, I’d played a few games against him, but when a fellow professional has something that happened to them, you can’t help but feel sad for his family, for his team-mates, for anyone who knew him. Also for (the bowler) Sean Abbott as well. It would have been horrific for him as well.
“It might give you a bit more of an understanding as to why we speak the way we do, you know, that there’s bigger things than results. When you think of it like that: a lot worse things could happen than losing a game of cricket.”
Stokes’ counterpart, Tom Latham, shared his sentiments and added: “Our thoughts are with Phil’s family on the anniversary. It puts cricket into perspective, it is just a game that we play.”
England’s Ben Stokes has paid tribute to Phil Hughes (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)
“He shined bright even in the tough times, which is a testament to who he was as a person, and we loved everything about him.
“Phillip, the small-town country boy, became an Australian Test, One-Day and Twenty-20 cricketer, where he played on the toughest pitches around the globe, alongside the toughest of cricketers on the world stage, but never forgot where he came from and who helped along the way.
“He loved being a part of a team and representing Australia for the game he loved so deeply.”
To honour Hughes, a poignant moment of silence was held at the SCG on Wednesday during the match between New South Wales and Tasmania.