Back#PutOutYourBats: Cricket community remembers Phil Hughes
Paul D. Taylor's poignant tribute on Twitter of placing his bat at his door began a campaign where fans, cricketers put their bats out in Hughes's memory
Premium
Its a rather simple but touching gesture to remember a bloke who passed away playing the sport he loved the most.
On Thursday, as the entire cricket community went into grief, reeling from the sheer shock of Australian batsman Phil Hughes’s unfortunate and untimely demise, Sydney-based Paul D. Taylor began a poignant tribute for the departing Hughes.
Just after news broke of Hughes’ passing, at around 4pm local time, Taylor tweeted an image, placing his cricket bat with a cap atop its handle at his front door as a “mark of respect" using the hashtag #PutOutYourBats.
Taylor later tweeted, “Thank you, but no thank you. #putoutyourbats isn’t about me. It’s just a way for all cricketers to pay their respects to Hughes. We’ve all played cricket in one way or other. 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 also must go to Sean Abbott. Thank you"
Taylor’s gesture began an extraordinary campaign, in which thousands of cricket fans, and former cricketers, including legends like Sir Vivian Richards and Adam Gilchrist, put their bats out in Hughes’s memory.
Cricket Australia joined the #PutOutYourBats campaign by placing 63 bats in the front windows of its headquarters in memory of Hughes.
Hughes was unbeaten on 63 when he was struck under the helmet by a bouncer from Abbott at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in a domestic match. Outside its headquarters in Jolimont, Melbourne, Cricket Australia also placed Hughes’s bat with his “Baggy Green" cap (number 408) on top.
According to a report in cricket.com.au, “Flags flew at half-mast at grounds around Australia and the world, where Hughes played country."
The report added, “A shrine has also been set up for the young Australian in Karachi in Pakistan."
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!
