Cricket: Thousands to mourn Australia's Phillip Hughes

A local resident strings up a banner in honour of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes in Macksville as his hometown prepares for his funeral, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A local resident strings up a banner in honour of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes in Macksville as his hometown prepares for his funeral, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A man holds a beer as he takes a photo of a tribute to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes before Hughes' funeral which will be held in his hometown of Macksville in northern New South Wales, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP 
A cricket bat is shown in tribute to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes in Macksville on Dec 2, 2014, ahead of his funeral. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A woman observes a tribute to deceased Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes outside a shopfront in Macksville as his hometown prepares for his funeral, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A schoolgirl and her mother inspect a tribute to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes before Hughes' funeral to be held in his hometown of Macksville in northern New South Wales, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
Three cherry-pickers are linked together to form giant cricket stumps and bear the Test number 408 of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes as preparations for his funeral continue in his hometown of Macksville in northern New South Wales, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: AFP
A local resident is pictured alongside a tribute to deceased Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes as his hometown prepares for his funeral in Macksville, on Dec 2, 2014. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

MACKSVILLE , AUSTRALIA (AFP) - Thousands are set to attend the funeral of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on Wednesday, after the death of the young batsman from a freak on-field injury shook the sport and triggered an outpouring of grief.

Hughes, 25 and on the cusp of a recall to the Test team, died from bleeding on the brain last Thursday after being hit on the base of the skull by a rising ball while playing at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

His tragic death stunned Australia, where cricket is considered the national game, and has prompted the rescheduling of the upcoming India Test series, while fans around the world placed cricket bats outside their front doors as a mark of respect.

In Hughes' hometown of Macksville, on Australia's east coast, tributes to the opener who scored three centuries in 26 Tests hang in shop windows, while ribbons in the green and gold colours of the Australian Test team adorn telephone poles.

"It's so huge. It's so massive," said local resident Bethany Simmons of the response to Hughes' death as she looked at the tributes with her children.

"It's so shocking, you never expect this to happen in cricket. Everyone knows the risks of rugby... but this was just so shocking. And he had so much potential." Macksville itself, home to a population of just 2,500, is bracing for the funeral which will be attended by cricket luminaries such as Shane Warne, Brian Lara, Richard Hadlee, Virat Kohli and Hughes' first Test skipper Ricky Ponting.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott will also be at the memorial.

Current Australian captain Michael Clarke, a close friend of Hughes, will be among the pallbearers and deliver a tribute during the service which starts at 2pm (11am Singapore time) and will be televised live across the country.

A NO-FUSS GUY

Hughes' parents Greg and Virginia and siblings Jason and Megan have invited the whole town to the service at Macksville High School, with about 1,000 expected to cram into the hall and 4,000 more filling overflow areas.

After the service, Hughes' hearse will travel down the town's main street, with mourners expected to line the procession to bid farewell to one of their favourite sons.

"There's not one Australian who can't be with us here in Macksville to celebrate Phillip's life," Hughes' manager James Henderson said.

"That's something, again, that's been very exceptionally moving for the family, to think that the whole of the country can stop and join them in celebrating his life and sending him off in the way that they really want to.

"Hughesy was a really no-fuss guy and I know he would be looking down at all of this and wondering what the hell's going on," he added.

Hughes died after his vertebral artery split when hit by the ball, leading to massive bleeding in his brain. It was a freak injury, with only 100 cases ever reported and only one as a result of a cricket ball.

Henderson said Hughes' family had been moved by the support from around the world.

"They're very proud that their son has made such an impression on people who knew him and obviously now people who have come to know him in this unfortunate circumstance." As she walked the main street looking at the tributes, local resident Zan Moc said she wished the family well.

"They gave us their son - I just hope that we can all support them," she said.

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