Australians mark Worcester's Hughes tribute

Worcestershire may have provided a damp welcome for the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars but the county keeps Australians close to its heart.

The Women's Ashes third ODI was hit by wet weather at New Road, with the players returning on the schedule reserve day on Monday for the third one-day international. The delay gave the Australian players time to pay respects at the county's moving tribute to late Phillip Hughes.

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Worcester's team pose with bat, cap and tribute jersey // Getty Images

Hughes visited the county with the national men's teams on each of his Ashes tours in 2009 and 2013, and spent a season playing county cricket with Worcester in 2012.

A memorial plaque was placed on April 8 prior to the start of the current county season, nine months after Hughes was struck on the back of the neck by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, passing away two days later.

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Detail of the tribute shirt worn by Worcestershire this year // Getty Images

It was the first time a visiting Australian team had the chance to see the county's tributes.

Worcestershire also wore specially designed shirts for their pre-season tour to Abu Dhabi in March, with Hughes’s Worcester cap number 475 above the shield and 'P.Hughes 63 not out' under the badge.

The shirts were auctioned off and all proceeds were delivered to a charity of the Hughes family’s choosing.

Worcestershire commercial director Jon Graham said: "Without doubt it (Hughes's death) hit the club and the staff really hard.

"Phillip was such a popular guy and, when things like that happen, you want to do something that is befitting of the individual and commemorate his name.

"For the trip to Abu Dhabi, we thought it would be a good idea to develop a one-off kit in honour of Phillip's name.

"It is about recognising a very good player for Worcestershire and what an absolute legend of a man he was."

Hughes was a club favourite during his stint at Worcestershire in 2012. In nine division one matches in 2012, Hughes hit 560 runs, including two centuries and a top score of 135 unbeaten.

In the domestic limited overs competition, a 40-over affair, Hughes averaged 83 in nine innings, scoring 498 runs and hitting two centuries and four other half-centuries.

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Hughes hits out for Worcestershire in 2012 // Getty Images

He had been set for a return to New Road the following year before selection on the 2013 Ashes tour ruled the left-hander out.

The Macksville boy was warmly welcomed by Worcester for Australia’s second tour match of that campaign, played before the first Test in Nottingham.

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Hughes also starred in Worcester's 2012 limited-overs team // Getty Images

As the game would down to a draw, visiting captain Michael Clarke threw Hughes the ball for just his fourth over in first-class cricket, almost capturing a wicket with a rank long hop.

In addition to the tile, a portrait of Hughes is set to be erected in the Graeme Hick Pavilion alongside the club’s greats of the past. 

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