Clarke, Finch to be pallbearers at Hughes' funeral

Sydney, Dec 2 (IANS) Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and opening batsman Aaron Finch will be pallbearers at Phillip Hughes' funeral to be held in Mackville Wednesday.

Clarke, Finch and South Australia’s Tom Cooper will help family and friends carry the coffin from the main hall at Macksville High School, reports Herald Sun.

Hughes’ father Greg, brother Jason and locals Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergan and Matthew Day will be the other pallbearers.

The 25-year-old left-handed batsman Hughes died Nov 27 after being hit by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) Nov 25.

The service will also be attended by the Australian squad and greats such as Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist and Justin Langer, as well as former New Zealand skipper Richard Hadlee.

Macksville, Hughes’s hometown, would come to a standstill at 2 pm as all shops and businesses close and more than 5000 from a local population of 7000 will join the Hughes family, dignitaries, Test cricketers, former players and teammates to say farewell.

Funeral organisers say it is much about the local community as the cricket family and the streets will be lined after the service.

In fact 80 percent of the hall will be reserved for locals. The rest will spill onto adjoining ovals to watch Channel Nine’s broadcasts on big screens.

“Everyone in this area should come and celebrate Phillip’s life. That’s what the family wants. And with TV and radio coverage, there is not one Australian who can’t be here with us to celebrate Phillip’s life,“ Hughes manager James Henderson said.

Clarke will be speaking at the funeral along with Cricket Australia (CA) CEO James Sutherland and a representative from Hughes’ family.