One-day international paceman Kane Richardson is among three South Australia players sitting out this week’s round of Sheffield Shield games as they come to grips with the death of teammate Phillip Hughes.
Richardson, who played at club, state and international level with Hughes, made the decision after playing a two-day first-grade game on the weekend. Although no member of the Australian Test team has pulled out, Richardson’s decision highlights the difficulties many first-class players are confronting this week.
Adam Zampa, a former NSW representative, and Daniel Worrall have also withdrawn from the Redbacks side to play Tasmania. Zampa, 22, chose not to play well in advance. Both were in Hughes’ final game.
The Redbacks have taken a 13-man squad to Hobart but some players are yet to decide if they will take to the field. “It’s been ongoing discussions around the whole group leading up to the game, we respect everyone’s decision,” said Redbacks batsman Tom Cooper.
“It’s a very tough decision to make. I know a few other boys on the trip were seriously thinking about not doing it but there’s no measure to see whether you’re right to go, [such as] a physical injury.
“There’ll be a few nervous blokes going in, we definitely don’t frown upon those blokes who have pulled out because it’s a very emotional time for everyone and everyone goes about it in different ways.”
Cooper, who was at the non-striker’s end when Hughes fell, still had flashbacks of the moment. “A few of the New South boys who were out there as well have said they keep replaying it over and over in their minds,” Cooper said.
“That’s one of the toughest bits but Phil would want us to be out there playing again. It’s what we do for a living and we love doing it. It’s a good step that we’re getting back out there and hopefully we can come away with a win for him.”
Cooper had made himself available but said he was unsure how he would cope this week.
“It’s always going to be different,” he said. “There are a few people who are raring to go, there are a couple who are still a bit unsure. I think everyone wants to play for him but it’s tough.
“The next four days will show. The hardest thing is, Mike Hussey said it last week, there’s so much time to think in a game of cricket. When you’re out there on your own and you’ve got all that time to think, to try to keep it out of your head is the main thing.”
Cooper, who was Hughes’ housemate, was a pallbearer at the funeral but said it was still hard to believe he had died.
“It’s a little bit weird,” he said. “Because he’s always been on tour it’s not unnormal for him not to be around. It hasn’t really hit home yet. I guess it’ll come in waves because we’re so used to him being away. As a team as well, he’s not here every game. As much as it’ll be in our minds, hopefully we can go out there and be business as usual and get on with the job.”
