David Warner has given a touching tribute to the late Phillip Hughes ahead of his final Test and believes his great mate would have been one of Australia’s greatest ever opening batters.
Hughes died at the age of 25 after he was struck on the neck by a cricket ball in a Sheffield Shield game at the SCG in November 2014.
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The talented batsman passed away two days later and his death was felt deeply by many members of the Australian team including Warner, who was at the SCG when Hughes was struck.
Warner will retire from Test cricket after the third Test against Pakistan at his home ground in Sydney, with 26 centuries across 112 matches.
But speaking ahead of his farewell match, Warner reflected on the legacy left by Hughes.
“For us, being here when he fell that day, was quite sad and terrible,” Warner said.
“Still today, it hits us hard. I’ve always seen him at the other end. All the boys know he’s looking down upon us.”
Hughes broke countless records in his junior cricket career and burst onto the scene for NSW before making his Test debut for Australia against South Africa in 2009.
The then 20-year-old scored two centuries in his Test debut facing the likes of Proteas spearhead Dale Steyn, becoming the youngest cricketer to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
Hughes scored three centuries from 26 Tests and after a down patch in form that saw him switch from NSW to South Australia, he was widely expected to return to the Australian team as Warner’s long-term opening partner.
Warner, who has formed a formidable late-career partnership with childhood friend Usman Khawaja, believes Hughes would returned to the Australian side and gone on to have a successful career.
“It’s still hard to talk about today because I think he was going to be one of our greatest opening batters ever,” Warner said.
“He had every shot in the book. His character, his energy and his smile lit up the room. Best mates with everyone, no one would ever say a bad word about him.
“I truly, truly believe today – if he was still with us – he’d be in my position or Uzzie’s (Usman Khawaja) position (in the Test team).”
When Warner walks out to bat in Sydney, he will brush past a plaque in honour of Hughes outside the Australian team’s dressing room in the old members’ stand.
Warner has had an interrupted preparation to his fairytale farewell at the New Year’s Test.
He has pleaded for assistance after his backpack containing his two baggy greens — one tattered cap worn for the majority of his career and a newer one — went missing some time in transit after the team left Melbourne for Sydney following the second Test.
“Unfortunately, this is my last resort to do this, but a couple of days ago our bags got freighted via Qantas,” he said.
“We’ve gone through CCTV footage. They’ve got some blind spots apparently. We’ve spoken to the Quay West Hotel who we absolutely trust, and we’ve gone through their cameras and no one has come into our rooms.
“Unfortunately, someone has taken my backpack out of my actual luggage which had my backpack and my girls’ presents in there.
“Inside this backpack were my baggy greens. That’s sentimental to me and it’s something I’d love to have back in my hands walking out there come this week.
“If it’s the backpack that you really wanted, I have a spare one here. You won’t get in trouble.”
The third Test between Australia and Pakistan begins on Wednesday in Sydney.
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