Remembering Phil Hughes: 11 years on, cricket still learns “how hard the cricket ball is”

November 27, 2025 10:34 PM

Remembering Phil Hughes: 11 years on, cricket still learns “how hard the cricket ball is”

November 25, 2014. A warm spring afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia ambled toward tea, the crowd half-dozing under a pale Sydney sun. Sean Abbott marked out his run. Twenty-two years old, quick, hungry, one of the bright young fast bowlers tipped for higher honours. He turned, gathered himself, and started his approach; long, rhythmic strides building speed across the outfield. The ball left his hand at close to 140 km/...

Hazlewood cleared for Ashes opener after injury scare; Abbott ruled out

November 12, 2025 1:04 PM

Hazlewood cleared for Ashes opener after injury scare; Abbott ruled out

Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood has been cleared of any major injury, while Sean Abbott has been ruled out of the series opener due to a “moderate grade hamstring injury.” Both Hazlewood and Abbott were sent for medical scans after pulling up sore on day three of New South Wales’ Sheffield Shield match against Victoria. Neither of the seamers, who had bowled nine overs, returned to the field after lunch on Wednesday afternoon. Hazlewood, a key member of Australia’s pace attack for the A...