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Aussie team's moving tribute to Hughes

3 minute read

Australia's Test captain Tim Paine says the five-year anniversary of Phillip Hughes' death is a reminder to never take anything for granted.

TIM PAINE
TIM PAINE Picture: Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images

Exactly five years after Phillip Hughes' death, Australia's cricketers gathered in the centre of Adelaide Oval.

They converged in a tight-knit circle after training on Wednesday night.

But they didn't dwell on their ongoing grief at Hughes' passing, instead telling their favourite stories of the precocious cricket talent.

"It was quite a nice moment actually," Australia's Test captain Tim Paine told reporters on Thursday.

"JL (coach Justin Langer) got us in the middle of the ground in a circle and we had one of those moments.

"He (Langer) is big on guys talking about things to help them deal with it. "Obviously for a few guys yesterday was a difficult day."

Hughes died on November 27, 2014, two days after being struck in the head while batting for South Australia against NSW in a Sheffield Shield game in Sydney.

Paine said the ceremony was emotional.

"Guys who had spent a lot of time with him told some stories about Hughesy and times they had spent with him," he said.

"It was about just trying to remember him in a positive way and remind ourselves how lucky we are to be playing the game he loved.

"And how much playing for his country meant for Hughesy - for us to never take that for granted.

"It was a really nice moment just to share some funny memories and stories of him growing up and coming through the ranks, it was a really nice time out in the middle."

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