“Phillip Hughes’ family will be at the game and I will be spending my time with them when I’m not in the commentary box”

Image courtesy of: Yahoo

Australia captain Michael Clarke has revealed that Phillip Hughes’ family will be in attendance during the fourth Test against India in Sydney.

Even though the match will only start on January 6, it has already taken a mental and physical toll on numerous Australian players since Hughes was struck by a fatal bouncer at the same venue.

“Phillip Hughes’ family will be at the game and I will be spending my time with them when I’m not in the commentary box,” Clarke said. “They have shown incredible strength over the last couple of months and it will be great to see them back out at the ground where they watched their son and brother score so many runs for NSW, South Australia and Australia.”

Clarke also admitted that the players will go through a range of emotions during the match.

“The Sydney Test will be an emotional occasion for all the boys,” he said. “I’m sure it will be tough for some of the boys coming back to the ground where the tragedy occurred a month and a half ago. But Phillip would want us to play on and it’s important the Aussie boys do so to honour his memory.”

Reminiscing about Hughes’ first Test for Australia, Clarke said: “He played his first ever Test in Australia there against Pakistan in 2010 and scored a cracking 87 in his last Test at the ground against Sri Lanka in 2013, which included a 130-run second wicket stand with Davey Warner.

“It’s brilliant that the SCG will honour his memory with a plaque outside the home team dressing room, sixty three bats affixed to the Members Stand and an exhibition in the museum. I’m sure he’d be chuffed to bits.”