Cricket Australia to retire Phillip Hughes' ODI jersey number 64

Phillip Hughes

At Michael Clarke’s request, Cricket Australia (CA) have decided to retire Phillip Hughes’ One Day International (ODI) jersey, number 64, following the unfortunate death of the 25-year-old couple of days ago, after being hit on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield cricket match at Sydney on November 25.

Clarke, captain of the national ODI and Test teams, speaking for the entire unit at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), issued a statement that read: 

“Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now. To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan, we share in the deep pain that you're feeling. 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

Things were always put into perspective when Hughesy said, 'Where else would you rather be boys but playing cricket for your country?' 

We are going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye. He epitomised what the baggy green is about and what it means to us all. The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it. Our promise to the Hughes family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.

Last night I asked Cricket Australia if Hughesy's Australian one-day international shirt number, 64, could be retired, to which they agreed. It means so much. His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.

We'd like to thank everyone, both here and overseas, for the touching tributes to Hughesy in recent days. Our dressing room will never be the same. We loved him and always will.

Rest in Peace, Brussy.”