Phillip Hughes tragedy: Shane Warne reflects on the loss of 'one of the good guys'
Thursday 27 November 2014 22:31, UK
Shane Warne has paid tribute to Phillip Hughes, who he says was 'one of the good guys'.
Hughes died at the age of 25 on Thursday, two days after being hit by a short delivery from Sean Abbott during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia in Sydney.
Warne worked with Hughes as recently as March and admitted it was tough to come to terms with the tragic news from Australia.
"It's obviously just shocking news," Warne told Sky Sports News HQ. "It's horrific and a sad situation that a great young man like Phillip who had the world at his feet is no longer with us.
"I think the cricket family has been touched by the story. It's just a tragedy for sport. We all love sport for the entertainment it gives us, no matter what the sport, and to see this tragedy on the field it's just something that should never happen.
He was trying to become the best player he possibly could and to be taken away from everybody and his family at 25 years of age, it's just a shock to everybody.
"I worked closely with the Australian team in March and saw how hard he worked. He was very, very humble, loved the game and was very passionate about the game.
"He was trying to become the best player he possibly could and to be taken away from everybody and his family at 25 years of age, it's just a shock to everybody. He was a really good man, one of the good guys."
Attention now turns to the future, both short and long-term, for Australian cricket with their Test series against India scheduled to start next week.
But Warne is unsure whether those games will start on time and admits to being concerned as well for the future of Sean Abbott, the bowler whose delivery struck Hughes, as well as players who knew the opener and those playing in the match.
He added: "It's going to be very difficult to be honest. It's going to take time. I feel for Sean Abbott, who was the bowler, it's going to be tough for him, tough for the players who were on the field and everyone that knew him.
"He's been around the Australian team, he's one of Michael Clarke's best friends, and I know Michael will be struggling. I don't know what's going to happen with the cricket that's meant to be happening next week. It's just one of those situations where everyone's in a bit of shock and it's just so sad.
"Friends and the cricket community have got to get around Sean. This was one of those freak accidents. Hopefully he can get himself up but I am sure he is going to be very disappointed in the whole situation. It's not his fault, it's one of those things that happens on the sporting field that we never ever want to see, whatever the sport.
"I hope he'll be okay and bounce back and I think everyone just needs some time to get over this because it has rocked everyone."
