Thursday 27 November 2014 12:08, UK
England and Wales Cricket Board chairman Giles Clarke has expressed his sympathy to the family of Phillip Hughes.
Hughes died in a Sydney hospital on Thursday, two days after being hit in the neck by a bouncer during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia.
England and Sri Lanka will hold a two minute silence before the second one-day international on Saturday.
Clarke said: "This is sad and shocking news and the ECB joins England Cricket in extending its deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family of Phillip as well as all the members of the cricketing family who regarded him as a friend or colleague.
"He was an extremely popular and hugely respected cricketer in England and Wales not only as a successful tourist with various Australian teams but also as a wonderfully talented county player with Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire.
"He will be missed throughout the world of cricket and today our thoughts are with his family and all those involved in Australian cricket."
The ECB was due to release the complete fixture list for the 2015 County Championship on Thursday morning but that has been postponed for 24 hours in the wake of the news from Australia.
MCC President David Morgan echoed Clarke's sentiments and added: "This devastating loss has shocked the cricket world, and on behalf of MCC I offer our condolences to his family and friends.
"I well remember his first series in South Africa. Phillip was a fine cricketer and one who we will tragically never have the chance to see batting again here at the Home of Cricket.
"Cricket can be a dangerous sport, but for a talented young man to lose his life playing the game he loved is beyond most people's comprehension.
"Known as he was to so many at Lord's, this news will be hard felt."
Middlesex, Hampshire and Worcestershire have all paid tribute to Hughes and flags at Lord's have been lowered to half-mast.
A statement on the Middlesex website read: "Middlesex County Cricket Club is devastated on hearing the tragic news concerning the passing of Phillip Hughes.
The thoughts and love of everyone at the Club goes out to Phil’s family and friends during this terrible time.
Phil was a bright, talented and fun young man, who made a huge impression on the Club during his brief stay here at Lord’s. Middlesex CCC is proud that he represented the Club."
Hampshire chairman Rod Bransgrove said: “I cannot begin to comprehend the loss of a talented, ebullient and lovely lad. In the Australia dressing room after the It20 at the Ageas Bowl in 2013, Hughesy said to me that after Warne, Katich, Watson and Clarke he felt like Hampshire's forgotten Aussie. I told him then, and I say it again now, you will never be forgotten Hughesy - you are part of our family. Rest in peace buddy.”
Worcestershire Director of Cricket Steve Rhodes said: "He will long be remembered for his run making ability but in the dressing rooms where he padded up we all will remember the quiet team man sat in the corner with a cheeky smile who was 'Hughesie'.
"The thing about Hughesie is you forget he was a really young bloke (23) when he came to us as well and in some ways an inmature dressing room - in terms of their ages - were excited by such a gifted Test cricketer coming to join us.
"They weren't sure how he was going to be - and when he came he was very much a down to earth country boy who just wanted to get on and play cricket. He went down so well with the team and everyone.
"There was no 'I'm a Test cricketer' about him. He was just a colleague in the team."
