Australia (and the wider international cricket and sport community) has paused to remember cricketer Phil Hughes and his tragic loss this week.
Many people die every day, both here and in even more tragic ways in other parts of the world, but Hughes’ death has left many mourning deeply.
The question some are asking is why Hughes and why the impact. I think there are a number of factors at play.
Most sports fans in Australia have a preference for a football code or two in the winter months, and are happy to argue the tos and fros of the different codes and why their favourites are best. The rivalry can be fierce and it often divides the population, e.g. NSW & QLD vs VIC etc.. Though the Wallabies are our national team there are many (including me to be honest) who have only a limited interest in rugby.
By contrast, it’s fair to say that the absolute majority of Australian sports fans are fans of the Australian cricket team. There is no division amongst supporters and we all cheer on the team and stay glued to the television to varying degrees when the weather warms up. We have an inbuilt loyalty to the team and want what’s best for it.
The second factor to me is the shock regarding the injury and ultimately the death itself. I’ve been watching cricket for over 35 years and I’ve never seen anything like it. We know it can be a dangerous sport but the injuries suffered are more likely to be ongoing complaints such as a bad back than a single severe impact. Bouncers have been around for many years and helmets are worn to defend against them. Most of you would be aware that I’m a big motor sport fan and whilst I’m aware of the danger the drivers put themselves in the safety in the sport has developed to such a point that it is very rare these days for someone to get seriously injured, let alone killed (Jules Bianchi’s accident in Suzuka notwithstanding). While that’s the case when you are travelling at 300km/h with other cars dicing for position near brick walls it stands to reason that danger is inherent in the sport.
By contrast, dying on a cricket pitch is such a foreign concept that it just didn’t register as something that was possible.
The third factor is based around Hughes himself. A small bloke with the obligatory “heart of gold” from Macksville, a small country town on the north coast of NSW, he was valued by team-mates, colleagues and fans. He seems to have been universally well-liked amongst those who grew up with him, worked with him and met him. He has friends in other areas of sport such as Laurie Daley and Anthony Mundine, who I must admit may need to be re-assessed in my mind. Many stories have come out about just what a good bloke he was and I think we’re in need of reminding that the world is mostly filled with good people, to stop us focusing too much energy on those who aren’t. As someone who’s heritage is very much from country NSW (Wagga, Narranderra and other towns in the Riverina) his story also represents what we may call the best of what we would like from country Australia. Though the reality may at times be different, as there are still many issues that need to be addressed (such as racism, homophobia, etc.), my idealised vision of the country community is one of people who are hard-working, loyal, down-to-earth and passionate about sport and about making a contribution. Hughes embodies this vision.
The next factor is one that has been touched on in the media – the number of Australian boys who grow up loving cricket and dreaming of one day donning the baggy green and playing for Australia. Hughes was a classic example of someone who followed his dream, and as he was small in stature, his success no doubt resonated a lot with those boys. His loss is probably something they’ve yet to fully comprehend, but the events of the last week and the associated media coverage will remind them of the importance of the Australian cricket team to Australia, and I dare say those dreams will be burning as bright as ever.
The last factor for me is the response from key people in the community. The international empathy has been nice to see (such as Elton John dedicating a song to him, the NZ cricket team, and cricket matches all over the world stopping for a moment’s silence in dedication), but it’s the local response which has had the most impact. To see the key players, such as Dave Warner and CEO James Sutherland, so overwhelmed with emotion and sadness about Hughes’ death has been a stark reminder of the love of the game and of the collective admiration for Hughes that there is out there in cricket community.
It is difficult to find the right words to describe the actions and emotions of Australian captain Michael Clarke. No doubt written off by some as a lightweight due to dalliances with Lara Bingle and the often sub-standard performance of the team over the last few years, it is fair to say that he has shown his true colours over the last week. From rushing to the hospital and staying by Hughes’ bedside for hours on end to his unrelentingly emotional press conferences and eulogy, he has shown himself to be a quality human being, a great mate, and someone worthy of being looked up to by those kids mentioned above. The cricket captaincy is the most important role in Australian sport, and he can keep it as long as he wants.
Rest in peace, Phil Hughes, you will be remembered fondly.
Well written, Andrew! I’d been following his career for the last several years, which I’d always found to be rather remarkable. After the injury, and subsequent death, last week, I was quite taken aback as to how hard it hit me. I guess it’s a combination of what you’ve written above – an average guy, who lived for his dreams; grounded in down-to-earth country common sense; an exceptional batsman; an ex-Homebush Boy!
“We must dig in and get through to tea. And we must play on.”