Phillip Hughes tragedy: Michael Clarke says Sean Abbott has his support
Sunday 30 November 2014 13:46, UK
Australia captain Michael Clarke has offered Sean Abbott, who bowled the ball which resulted in the death of batsman Phillip Hughes, his full support in returning to the sport.
The 22-year-old, who has played in three Twenty20 internationals and a one-dayer for Australia, is understood to have undergone counselling since the accident at Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
Abbott was playing for New South Wales in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia when he bowled a bouncer which struck Hughes on the neck. The 25-year-old died two days later in hospital.
"No-one - not one single person - blames him in any way for what has happened," said Clarke, writing in The Daily Telegraph in Australia.
"He deserves our full support, he will absolutely have mine whenever he needs it, and I know that also goes for the entire Australian cricket community.
"Sean, when you feel like getting back on the horse mate, I promise you that I will be the first to strap on the pads and go stand up the end of the net to hit them back at you. It’s exactly what Hugh Dog would want us both to do."
Clarke paid an emotional tribute to his close friend - who would have celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday - in a separate article in the same newspaper.
"His cricketing achievements - of which there were many - really play second fiddle to the human qualities that he exhibited," said Clarke.
"Loyal to a fault, eternally optimistic, kind-hearted, wicked sense of humour, a child like verve for life… I really could go on and on.
"I don’t think in 12 years of playing cricket at the top level I have ever come across a more loyal or generous-hearted team-mate.
"Whenever Hughesy suffered adversity - if he was replaced in the team or if he wasn't scoring as many runs as he wanted - he never dropped his head, never once complained."
Hughes' funeral will take place on Wednesday.
