I WILL NEVER FORGET PHIL
IN life we meet many people. Friends come and go, our lives take different paths and what I’ve learnt, especially over the past 30 years being involved in elite sport, is in tough times you find out who your real friends really are.
The death of Phillip Hughes, as this column acknowledged last year, was one of the toughest times in my life.
It forced me to seek professional help to overcome the aftermath and psychological scars that the associated trauma caused.
It’s been a tough week for many people but none more so than the Hughes family still coming to terms with the tragic loss of their son three years ago this week.
November 25, 2014, will sadly be etched in my memory for all the wrong reasons, for it was on this day that a fine young man was struck a fatal blow to the side of the neck while batting at the SCG, resulting in him losing his life in scenes I can never possibly erase from my subconscious.
Thursday, November 30 this week was to be Hughesy’s 29th birthday, which makes it even harder to deal with. For the rest of my life, this week will always be a tough one.
The gutsy, country-raised lad with steel in his veins should have — and would have — been in Adelaide preparing for the second Ashes Test against England.
Instead, those close to him mourned in silence and still ask questions of why and how such a tragedy could take place in a game we all love.
The second Test will start this afternoon in Adelaide with a pink ball and be played under lights.
Who would have thought a decade ago this would be the case?
The Adelaide Oval Test is the best on the sporting calendar and any cricket lover should add this to their bucket list. Immediately.
The facilities for watching the game are first class, the surrounds magnificent and for those who like a good time the marquee set up out the back of the members’ stand is something akin to the birdcage at Flemington during the Spring Carnival.
The game itself promises to be a ripper after the Aussies went 1-0 up in Brisbane.
The English showed they have some players of real quality not many of us knew beforehand. James Vince played beautifully in the first innings and is more than capable off the back foot, which is vitally important against our three big quicks.
Opener Mark Stoneman looks to have some real substance about him and is in for the fight. Alastair Cook looks out of sorts but his class will find some runs soon.
Joe Root is world class and big runs will flow this summer. Johnny Bairstow will play aggressively and Moeen Ali is a gun No. 7/No. 8 all-rounder.
The Ben Stokes incident has robbed us of a world class all-rounder that would have made this series much more competitive.
Stokes instead of Woakes changes the whole complexion and make-up of our visitors. Don’t even start me on whether Stokes should be allowed to play.
James Anderson will enjoy the conditions in Adelaide, where the pink ball will bend around corners under lights and, if he finds his mojo, this Test may be closer than we first thought.
Stuart Broad must provide some fire from the other end and take on the enforcer role for England if it is to be competitive.
Make no mistake, our three big quicks will be full steam ahead and looking to go for the jugular.
Nathan Lyon bowled beautifully in Brisbane and was unlucky not to record better figures than he did.
He is at the top of his game and full of confidence. Steve Smith led from the front with a magnificent century and his standing in the game continues to grow.
Finally, behind the stumps Tim Paine, whose selection was widely criticised, showed us why he was considered the man in waiting many years ago before a nasty finger injury put his career on hold. Paine is a class act and will only get better and better.
Australia will be 2-0 up after Adelaide. Oh, how I wish that my little mate was still here to be part of it. He loved the contest the tougher it got and would have absolutely relished this series.
Phillip Hughes 63 not out, forever!