I still remember how we discussed him in 2009, my first year of playing cricket. His performance in SA came out of the blue, and my english captain was complaining about the fact that Middlesex signed him up for the CC. I still remember this exchange between us:
"We're getting him used to english conditions before the ashes, how dumb could that be?"
"Well, that may be a way to scout him for weaknesses..."
"But he might have none!"
That's how high the hype was for him at the time. It was the first batsman that looked as a potential superstar that I followed from the beginning of his career, and from that point on I never stopped following his performances, despite the many unexpected lows in the years afterwards. There were issues against the short ball first, then against spin. But the lad never stopped trying to overcome whatever he found in his way; and I have the feeling that, sooner or later, he would have eventually fulfilled everything that his first series against SA promised. He was not a quitter, that's for sure.
Rest in Peace Phillip.
And Sean Abbott... stay strong mate. We can't possibly know how are you feeling right now, but I think that everyone in the cricket community will be close to you. Our thoughts are with you.
A truly great cricketer and from what I can gather an absolute champion bloke. A huge loss to not only the cricketing world, but the world in general. RIP Phillip Hughes.
