Juniors mark loss of Hughes with tribute

The Taradale Intermediate School first XI put out their bats in honour of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes. Photo / Paul Taylor

Hawke's Bay club and school cricketers and the four teams competing in the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 during the weekend have held tributes to commemorate the tragic loss of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

The 25-year-old Hughes died last Thursday in a Sydney hospital after being struck on the back of the neck by a short-pitched ball while batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales last Tuesday.

Tributes from the global cricketing community have streamed in to support the Hughes family and the Australian cricket team following the tragedy at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The social media 'put out your bats' campaign also resonated through Hawke's Bay's club cricketers, as many junior players left their bats outside as a mark of respect for the left-handed batsman, including the Taradale Intermediate School first XI before their match on Saturday.

At McLean Park in Napier, all four teams competing in the weekend's Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 games, including Central Districts, Northern Districts, Auckland and Otago, observed a minute's silence and wore black arm bands.

Black Caps and Pakistan players left their green and black caps draped on their bats around the Sharjah ground boundary during their test match in the United Arab Emirates. After the second day of the game was postponed as a mark of respect, the Kiwi's took to the field with Hughes' initials under the silver fern.