"We were about to tell Bucky Rogers he was going to make way" - Darren Lehmann reveals Phillip Hughes was set for Test return before tragic death
Former Australian head coach Darren Lehmann has claimed that Phillip Hughes was set for a Test comeback before his tragic death in November 2014. Playing for South Australia, Hughes was struck on his neck by a bouncer on Day 1 (November 25) of a Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales.
The left-handed batter was immediately rushed to hospital and was on life support before ultimately sending shivers across the cricketing world with his death on November 27.
Hughes had played 26 Tests for Australia since debuting in 2009 but was excluded after a lean run during the 2013 Ashes. But after Chris Rogers had endured a poor run in the Pakistan Test series in October 2014, Lehmann and the selectors planned to recall Hughes.
As Australian cricket gets set to commemorate Hughes' 10th death anniversary, Lehmann told Code Sports about the talented batter's comeback to the side.
"Yeah, we’d had a meeting, already. That was all done and we were about to tell Bucky Rogers he was going to make way out of the team. Then obviously we had to put everything on hold," he said.
"I was in the office (next to Allan Border Field) and they said Phil’s been hit. When we saw the video of that and he’s gone straight to hospital, I literally flew straight down. I just left work with just my tracksuit and that was it. I had to buy clothes when I got down there and work it all out," Lehmann added.
With Hughes' tragic death, Rogers continued opening the batting for Australia in the subsequent Test series against India at home in December.
"I cherish my life a lot more now than I ever did" - Michael Clarke
Former Australian captain Michael Clarke said Phillip Hughes' death has had a massive impact on his life. Clarke mentioned how he values life and its journey more after losing Hughes at 25.
The duo played several Tests for Australia together between 2009 and 2013, with Clarke also the captain in many of Hughes' Test appearances.
"Losing Phillip at such a young age is a big part of my life. I cherish my life a lot more now than I ever did. I enjoy my journey a lot more now than I ever did as a youngster. I look back now and wish when I played for Australia that I was more like this. That I stopped to smell the roses and realise it could be over tomorrow," Clarke told Code Sports.
Hughes played 26 Tests, 25 ODIs, and a lone T20I for Australia, scoring 2,367 runs with five centuries and 11 half-centuries.