Fans share touching tributes for Phil Hughes
Tributes continue to pour in for the 25-year-old who died after being struck by a fast ball.
Fans have been displaying cricket bats outside homes and cricket grounds using the hahtage, #putyourbatsout
Sending photos of the bats in tribute grew quickly after a Twitter account #putoutyourbats was opened by Sydney cricket fan Paul Taylor with a photo of his cricket bat leaning against his front door.
"We've all played cricket in one way or another," Taylor said on his Twitter account, the Australian broadcaster ABC reported.
"Backyard or beach cricket, no matter what level, we've all grown up with a bat and ball. This is our way to connect and show our sadness. Thoughts must go to [the bowler] Sean Abbott."
Abbott, 22, who bowled the 130-kilometre-per-hour ball that struck Hughes, has been receiving counselling and support from fellow cricket players.
The simple social media tribute has grown to hundreds of photos taken in Australia and around the cricket-playing world of bats leaning on doors and gates, many of them with caps from local teams on the handle.
Hughes was struck by a fast bouncing ball during a state match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday. It hit him just below his helmet behind his left ear, crushing an artery and causing heavy bleeding on the brain.
He was operated on to relieve pressure and placed in an induced coma, but he died yesterday. The team doctor Peter Brukner called it a "freakish accident" adding it was "incredibly rare."
Sports players will be wearing black armbands this weekend, including the Australian Rugby Team the Wallabies who play England at Twickenham.
Cricket club games for Saturday have been cancelled, but it is yet to be decided whether the Test Series against India to start on Thursday in Brisbane will go ahead as planned.
The BLACKCAPS pay tribute to Phil Hughes ahead of day two of the Test #putoutyourbats #pakvnz ^CE pic.twitter.com/s0l58YlTGh
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 28, 2014
Pakistan with their tribute to #PhilHughes at Sharjah #PakvNZ #putoutyourbats pic.twitter.com/ObhRJzbVms
— Hemant Buch (@hemantbuch) November 28, 2014
The dream begins with a bat, ball and a stocking from a tree. @CricketAus #RIPHughesy #putoutyourbats pic.twitter.com/60xmPqdwb3
— Michael Kasprowicz (@kaspa369) November 28, 2014
RIP Phil Hughes #putoutyourbats pic.twitter.com/6DvxGOEs23
— Yusuf Rasdien (@joeyrasdien) November 28, 2014
#putoutyourbats Despite the falling twilight there will be always time for another over. pic.twitter.com/03aFfGRUZy
— Andrew James Whalan (@andrew_whalan) November 28, 2014
#putoutyourbats RIP Phil Hughes. I don't have a cricket bat, but a hurl from a sports fan from Ireland pic.twitter.com/ZdkzkDFlpw
— Brendan Maher (@brenny2506) November 28, 2014
In Honour of #PhilHughes frm #Cricket lovin #India. Mine is a baby-bat signed @msdhoni #putoutyourbats @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/bvgnacQrSU
— ~Nikita~ (@BhattNaturally1) November 28, 2014
PHOTO: A cricket bat and flowers are left at the main entrance of the SCG as a tribute to Phil Hughes. @smh pic.twitter.com/Lt6YpIQCYH
— SMH Photography (@photosSMH) November 27, 2014
Very well done, Google Australia. #putoutyourbats pic.twitter.com/8aNR2pZO6l
— Simon Caney (@simoncaney) November 28, 2014
(Thumbnail photo via @BLACKCAPS Twitter)
