Clarke: I'm there for Sean Abbott when he gets back on the horse

Dejan Kalinic
and others
• 3 min read
SeanAbbott

Abbott's bouncer struck Hughes in the neck on Tuesday, and the talented left-handed batsman died in a Sydney hospital just days later from the injuries suffered.

The public has rallied around Abbott, a 22-year-old who has played for Australia at Twenty20 and one-day international level.

Clarke, who described Hughes as a "brother", said Abbott was in no way responsible for the "freak accident".

"I would like to say some words about Sean Abbott," Clarke wrote in a News Corp column on Sunday.

"This is a tremendous young man with a bright future whose life has changed forever by this accident. And that;s what it is - a freak accident.

"No-one - not one single person - blames him in any way for what has happened. He deserves our full support, he will absolutely have mine whenever he needs it, and I know that also goes for the entire Australian cricket community.

"Sean, when you feel like getting back on the horse mate, I promise you that I will be the first to strap on the pads and go stand up the end of the net to hit them back at you.

"It's exactly what Hugh Dog would want us both to do."

Clarke thanked the public for their tributes to Hughes, who would have turned 26 on Sunday.

The 33-year-old remembered Hughes' "amazing talent", laid-back nature and mental toughness.

"Phillip was taken from all of us way too soon, but his attitude to life, his achievements on and off the field, and the hundreds of friends he made along the way all demonstrate that he did indeed live a crowded hour," Clarke wrote.

"That his career, and his life, was cut short in his prime is incredibly unfair.

"I don't have a blood brother, but I am very proud to have called Phillip my brother. I am a better man for having known him.

"Vale Hugh Dog. I will miss you forever, but I will not forget.

"Happy birthday bro."

Author(s)
Dejan Kalinic