JUNIOR cricketers will retire at 63 this morning as a mark of respect to the late Phillip Hughes.
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Hughes, 25, died on Thursday – two days after he was struck while batting during a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG.
His score at the time of the tragedy was 63 not out.
As a nation mourns his death, senior and junior cricketers across Bathurst will also be asked to wear black armbands and observe a minute’s silence before this weekend’s matches.
The general rule in junior cricket is that batsmen declare their innings at 50 not out but, at the request of Cricket Australia, that will become 63 for this weekend only.
Bathurst District Cricket Association president Campbell Graham said yesterday the association wanted to do something as a mark of respect to Hughes, who suffered severe brain trauma after being struck by a bouncer while playing for South Australia against NSW at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
“At no stage did we really consider canning matches altogether,” Mr Graham said.
“I can’t speak for Phillip, but I am sure he wouldn’t have wanted play to be stopped, and for games to go on.
“However, the BDCA is asking players and umpires to wear black armbands as a sign of respect to a man who was such a great talent.
“We are also asking for a minute’s silence to be observed both before and after games as another form of tribute to Phillip where they will be able to reflect on his career and what has happened.”
Mr Graham said he has spoken with a lot of local cricketers about the tragedy and they are just amazed that something like this has happened.
“When you look at the television footage of the bouncer hitt-ing Hughes it looks so innocuous.
“The ball got through him and hit him in a place on his head that wasn’t property protected. It was a freakish accident that’s ended an illustrious career.
“It shows you that life is so precious and should never be taken for granted. Anyone who has played the game for any length of time would have had similar experiences of near misses with short balls. Bouncers are part of the game.
“But something like this does make you realise that even with all the modern-day protection players can wear, at the end of the day we are mere mortals.”
Bathurst District Junior Cricket Association secretary Richard Newell said yesterday they too have sent messages out to all clubs regarding appropriate tributes to Phillip Hughes.
“It is up to the coaches and players what they do, but we feel wearing black armbands is an appropriate thing to do, as would a minute’s silence before matches get underway,” he said.
“I believe similar tributes will be held at cricket grounds across Australia over the weekend.
“There is only one rep game on Sunday and that is Bathurst vs Lachlan in the under 16s and we expect the players will also be wearing black armbands and observing the minute’s silence.
“Cricket Australia has also asked that clubs with junior retirement scores of 50 change it to 63, which was Phil Hughes’ final score. This will apply for under 11s, 12s and 13s.”
From a personal point of view, Mr Newell said most cricket players have been hit hard by the ball.
“What happened to Phillip Hughes was just one of those things – a freak set of circumstances and the most tragic of results. Most people are in disbelief that this has happened.”
