The date of the memorial has yet to be confirmed

Image courtesy of: The Mirror

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has announced that Australia batsman Phillip Hughes will be honoured with a state memorial in Sydney next week.

Hughes passed away at the age of 25 yesterday after being struck on the side of the neck by a bouncer from New South Wales pace bowler Sean Abbott.

It has also been revealed that the memorial will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).

State memorials are usually reserved for political figures, but Baird stated that Hughes would be given the honour of having one following the wave of tributes that have poured in after his death.

“This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman,” Baird said in a statement.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland added: “We would like to thank the Premier for his decision to grant a state memorial service for Phillip and for putting the Hughes family’s views first in offering such a service to the family.

“The SCG is a place that Phillip cherished so dearly, and it is a ground where Phillip provided cricket fans from around the world with so much joy.”

Speaking about the memorial, Cricket New South Wales chief executive Andrew Jones said: “It’s important for the community to be able to come together as one to remember Phillip, and we thank the Premier for continuing his staunch support of cricket in NSW and giving us the ability to host this service here in Sydney.

“Phillip made his first class debut at the SCG and we believe this is a fitting way to celebrate his life.”