IT WAS a moment of sombre reflection and raw emotion.
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As Bendemeer’s Josh Hazlewood prepared for this week’s Sydney Test, he knew the only way to honour the memory of fallen teammate Phillip Hughes was on the pitch.
Speaking on the eve of the Test, Hazlewood admitted returning to the SCG for the first time since Hughes’s tragic death would be difficult.
“I think it will be, probably more so for those guys who were out there playing in that game,” he said.
“It’s different for everyone, but for those guys it will be the toughest.
“Playing in Brisbane and Melbourne, we got away from it a little bit and really got stuck into some cricket.
“But when we get back to the SCG, training there and going out to the game, it might bring a few feelings back for the guys who were out there and everyone on the team.”
As northern NSW cricketing prodigies of the same generation, Hughes and Hazlewood crossed paths as juniors on numerous occasions.
“I remember playing against Phil when I was about 15 or 16 in an under-17s competition,” Hazlewood said.
“We were in the same tournament, but the last day got washed out and that was when I was meant to play him.
“So I was actually pretty happy after he came off hundred, hundred in the first two days.
“Tamworth and Macksville are pretty close. He’s North Coast and I’m Central North. He’s two years older, so we crossed paths a fair few times.”
Australia finished yesterday’s opening day at 2/348.
Hazlewood is expected to take the field for the first time today.