Name:

Hughes, Phillip

Nickname:

Phil

Date of Birth:

30 Nov 1988

Gender:

Male

Place of Birth:

Macksville, NSW

Career:

Test: 2009 - current
First Class: 2007 - current
ODI: 2013 - current
T20: 2014 - current

Teams:

Australia (Country)
NSW (Regional)
SA (Regional)

Bouncer tragedy: Phil Hughes dies from head injury

Phil Hughes: Unorthodox opener, teenage prodigy - tragic death

Phillip (Phil) Joel Hughes died tragically after being struck on the head by a bouncer in a first class game in Sydney on 26 Nov 2014.

Hughes was a left-handed opening batsman who is widely considered to be one of the most promising prospects for Australia's future. He made his Test debut at the age of 20 after just two seasons with New South Wales.

After consistently making runs at domestic level, Hughes was called up to replace Matthew Hayden on Australia's tour of South Africa in February and March 2009. He was selected to make his debut in the first Test match starting on 26 February 2009 at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg after making 53, then retiring, in Australia's tour match against the South African Board President's XI. He was dismissed for a duck in his first Test innings by Dale Steyn off just the fourth ball of the match, however he went on to top-score with 75 in the second innings, including 11 fours and a six.

Hughes hit his maiden Test hundred in the first innings of the second Test at the Sahara Stadium, Kingsmead, Durban on 6 March 2009, bringing up his hundred with a four and consecutive sixes from a Paul Harris over. He added another hundred in the second Innings. In doing so, Hughes, at the age of 20 years and 96 days, became both the youngest Australian since Doug Walters to score a Test century, and the youngest player from any country to score a century in both innings of a Test match.

During the 2009 Ashes campaign, Hughes' unorthodox technique was exploited by fast bowlers, who targeted his upper body, and avoided bowling wide outside off stump, restricting his opportunities to play shots through the offside, most notably the cut shot. He was dropped from the team, for the third Edgbaston Test in favour of Shane Watson, who opened the batting in his place and provided the Australians with an extra bowling option.

He has since been the first choice of cover batsman for the Australians. A call-up for the Boxing Day Test match to cover for Ricky Ponting came first, and then a break through at the New Year's Test. Hughes, at his home ground was chosen to replace Simon Katich, who suffered an elbow injury. In the first innings Hughes was dropped first ball, but failed to make use of the opportunity, getting out for a duck. In the second innings he was involved in a century opening stand with Shane Watson. Hughes made 37 before he was out to a brilliant catch from Danish Kaneria.

Hughes was called up to the Test squad for the tour of New Zealand in March 2010. An injury to Shane Watson meant he was included in the playing XI for the first Test. Hughes once again failed to make use of the opportunity in the first innings, giving Brent Arnel his first Test wicket, making just 20. However in the second innings Hughes bolted out of the blocks to make 86 of just 75 balls, as Australia chased down the total of 105 with ten wickets to spare.