In the book, Phillip Hughes: The Official Biography, by journalists Malcolm Knox and Peter Lalor, Hughes’ dad Greg explains that Phil was battling a virus that nearly kept him from playing in the Sheffield Shield match in November last year.
Greg says Phillip’s battle to get back into the Test team was the reason he was so adamant on playing that game.
“He wasn’t well, but he was so determined to score runs,” said Greg.
“He thought he’d batted himself out of the Test team when he didn’t make runs in the previous match, but now it was clear that Clarkey was struggling with his hamstring, Phillip knew how important this match was, and he saw that bigger picture.”
After a strong 2013/14 domestic season, Hughes was on the cusp of re-joining the Test side for Australia’s five match series against India.
Elsewhere, the book describes a conversation between South Australia coach Darren Berry and Test selector Mark Waugh during the fateful Sheffield Shield game.
“How’s Hughesy going?” Waugh asked Berry.
“He’s not looking good against the short ball,” Berry replied.
“He never does, but I’ll put my house on him making a century today.”
Hughes was struck on the neck by a bouncer from New South Wales paceman Sean Abbott and died at St Vincent’s Hospital two days later.
Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh also told Knox and Lalor that Hughes was very much a part of Australia’s long-term batting plans.
“It became obvious to all and sundry that he would replace (Chris) Rogers as Warner’s opening partner (in the future),” said Marsh.
“That was the master plan going forward. I think that was the way it was going to be.
“We were very confident he would have a long and successful Test match career.
“He was always going to put his name up in front of the selectors…how many runs would he have got in that innings, who knows?
“He was just as likely to peel off 200 and make his case irresistible.”