OTD: Phillip Hughes was born in 1988

On this day in 1988, Phillip Hughes was born in Macksville, New South Wales. Hugest moved to Sydney as a teenager, and he debuted for New South Wales at 18 and became one of the most exciting young batters in domestic cricket. His technique grabbed selectors’ attention, and by 2009, he was already seen as a future 100-Test player.

Hughes made his Test debut against South Africa in Johannesburg in 2009 at the age of 20. After a duck in his first innings, he bounced back with 75 in the second and then smashed twin centuries in Durban, becoming the youngest player ever to score a hundred in both innings of a Test. His approach against Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel made him an overnight sensation.

During the 2009 Ashes, England exposed weaknesses in his technique against the short ball, leading to his ouster after just two Tests. His frustration became public when he revealed the news on Twitter before team management, drawing criticism.

Over the next few years, Hughes remained Australia’s first-choice standby opener. He produced notable performances, including the 86 off 75 balls against New Zealand in Wellington in 2010, and scored his third Test hundred in Colombo in 2011. However, his comeback tours to India (2013) and the Ashes later that year again ended on a poor note.

In white-ball cricket, Hughes scored a century on ODI debut in 2013 and later became the first Australian to hit a List-A double ton. Domestically, he thrived across formats, playing for NSW, South Australia, and English counties Worcestershire and Middlesex.

However, the most tragic moment came on November 25, 2014, when the southpaw was batting on 63 for South Australia, was hit on the neck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match. The rare injury caused a vertebral artery dissection, leading to massive brain bleeding. He passed away two days later, at just 25. The cricketer is still remembered, and post the tragedy, the ICC reflected on the safety of players, leading to a transformation in helmets and other cricket equipment.

Disclaimer: This Exclusive News is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. As you review this information, consider the points mentioned and form your own conclusions.

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