This has been a jolt. Even my wife and the women in the office, none of whom are cricket fans, were upset by the news. I had to wipe away a tear or two after hearing the coverage on the radio this morning. Why?? I didn't know him and I thought he had a poor technique for test cricket . BUT he just kept scoring hundreds?? More than anyone else! I think his unorodoxy is what won you over. He shouldn't have prospered but he did. Then he'd get dropped and force his way back in with heaps of runs. You just had to admire him. He was never a whinger either. For all my misgivings about his technique I remember the first test in England last year - the one where Agar scored 98 on debut. At the other end was Hughes who got 70 odd? but you just knew, was never going to get out.
So sad for his family.
One of the papers is referring to him as 'forever 63 not out'. Kinda haunting. There's a move to pay respect by leaving your bat out at the front door. A bit sentimental for me, but....?? Then I'd have to explain it to my 4 year old who's mad about the game. I guess Phil Hughes was the same himself 21 years ago.
It's hard to think of another instance that's touched the country in the same way? Steve Irwin maybe?
Again, so sad. Time for an early night.
