PhillipHughes

A prodigious batting talent and prolific run-scorer with a bright future ahead of him, Phillip Joel Hughes tragically lost his life on November 27, 2014, two days after he was struck by a short ball while batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Hughes’s death triggered an outpouring of emotion rarely witnessed in cricket, with the 25-year-old a hugely popular figure within the sport, both domestically and internationally.

With an unorthodox homespun technique and an impressive first-class record to his name – having already become the youngest to score a century in a Sheffield Shield final – Hughes burst onto the international scene with a record-breaking performance against South Africa in 2009.

In just his second Test, a star was born in Durban when Hughes became the youngest batsman in history to score centuries in each innings of a match, at the age of 20 years and 96 days.

But despite the dream start to his career, the left-handed opener was soon to experience the fickleness of form and the trials and tribulations of international cricket.

Dropped on Australia’s 2009 Ashes tour just three Tests after his heroics against the Proteas, he played out the next four years of his Test career as an in-again, out-again member of Ricky Ponting’s, and then Michael Clarke’s, teams.

A third Test century – this one a series-saving effort alongside Clarke, who also made a century – came in Colombo in August 2011, but again it was followed soon after by a lean trot.

During Australia’s two-Test series against New Zealand in 2011, Hughes was caught by Martin Guptill off the bowling of Chris Martin in four successive innings.

A switch to South Australia in 2012 seemed to reinvigorate Hughes and he also showed his ability in 50-over cricket, in which he became the first Australian to score a century on their one-day international debut.

In 2014, he added to his unique list of records by becoming the first Australian male to score a double century in a List A match, hitting a six off the final ball against South Africa A in Darwin to reach the milestone.

Weeks later, again for Australia A, he posted his highest first-class score of 243 not out to give every indication he was primed for a return to Test cricket.

In his final innings, Hughes finished 63 not out as he pushed his claim for Test honours one final time.

A country lad who chased his Baggy Green dreams

Special video tribute to Phillip Hughes

Career retrospective in pictures

Australia farewells Phillip Joel Hughes

A celebration veiled by unbearable sadness 

Michael Clarke's emotional goodbye speech