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It's hard not to get emotional watching Aussie skipper Michael Clarke pay tribute to Phillip Hughes

Fair dues to Clarke. This wasn’t easy.

AUSTRALIAN CRICKET CAPTAIN Michael Clarke said today the team were in deep pain at the death of Phillip Hughes.

Hughes, 25, died on Thursday from massive bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting at a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Speaking on behalf of the Australian cricket team and support staff, a visibly upset Clarke spoke of Hughes’ parents and family and said: “We share in the deep pain that you’re feeling.

“Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now,” he told a brief press conference in Sydney in which he took no questions and battled to keep his composure.

“Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest playing cricket for his country with his mates,” Clarke said.

“Things were always put into perspective when Hughesy said: ‘Where else would you rather be boys than playing cricket for your country?’”

Clarke said Hughes, who had played 26 Tests since his 2009 debut and who had appeared ready for his next call up, had epitomised what the baggy green cap that Australian Test cricketers wear was all about.

He said he had asked Cricket Australia to retire Hughes’ one-day international number of 64 which they had agreed to do.

“The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it. Our promise to Hughesy’s family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory,” Clarke said.

“His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.”

ABC News (Australia) / YouTube

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