Bears,
In light of yesterday's tragic news regarding Phillip Hughes, both the ACTSSCA and Cricket Australia are encouraging all teams to pay tribute and commemorate his life in their respective matches over the weekend.
If anyone has any ideas they would like to put forward as to how we can do this, please let me know.
RIP Phillip Hughes
Phillip Hughes died earlier today after being struck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match a couple of days ago – please see
http://www.cricketaustralia.com.au/. The ACTSSCA fully supports Cricket Australia's encouragement for all players competing this weekend to commemorate Phillip Hughes before or during the match (see postscript to this email for a message from James Sutherland, CEO Cricket Australia).
In light of this terrible accident, involving a top order first class and Test batsman wearing a helmet, I remind everyone that short pitch bowling is emphatically not part of our competition. I particularly ask that when you discuss umpiring with your opposing Captain before each match you always revisit our central rule that any ball that bounces is a no ball if it does or would pass above chest height at the crease. Any ball that does or would pass above waist height at the crease on the full is also a no ball.
I also ask you to remind your players of these rules and of the top priority we place on competing in a way that promotes everyone going home safely having had a social afternoon out on the park.
Angus Algie
President, ACTSSCA
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Phillip Hughes 1988 - 2014
Dear All,
You will have heard that Southern Redbacks batsman, Phillip Hughes sustained a fatal injury at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this week.
It is my sad duty to inform you that a matter of hours ago Phillip Hughes passed away.
The word tragedy gets used far too often in sport but this freak accident is now a real-life tragedy. Just shy of his 26th birthday, Phillip has been taken from us far too young.
As a cricketer, Phillip was an incredibly talented and dearly loved member of the Australian, South Australian and Adelaide Strikers squads and a former NSW representative. He also played county cricket in England and IPL in India. Without doubt he was a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him.
As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family, friends and team mates at this incredibly sad time, and of course to the Australian cricket family and the State Associations. We are thinking of you right now.
I’d like to thank you and our club community around the country for the wonderful show of support given to Phillip and his family. From social media to phone calls to our front desk, the support has been tremendous and I want to thank you on behalf of Australian cricket.
We know that Phillip would encourage you to celebrate the game of cricket with your mates over the weekend. We ask you to do that in tribute to Phillip Hughes. Whether that’s getting creative with writing his player number 408 on the outfield, wearing a black arm band or having a moment’s silence after the toss. Celebrate his great achievements and the contribution he made to our game.
Phillip Joel Hughes played 26 Test matches for his country. He will be sadly missed and forever remembered.