Hughes’ death changed cricket in a blink

O’Keefe was fielding for NSW in the match that Hughes suffered the accident.

His death a freak accident stunned Australia and the world cricket community, sparking an outpouring of grief.

As the first death anniversary of former Australian batsman Phillip Hughes nears, former skipper Ricky Ponting has paid tribute to the late cricketer, saying that he will miss his “infectious personality”. “It’s not like it’s a reminder for a lot of the guys in the team, that’s something you play with every day, having (lost) one of the blokes that you played with and loved”.

“The introduction of the neck guard, I think that has been quite big so I do think it should be made compulsory”, he told the newspaper.

“You can’t safeguard against everything, I guess”, McCullum told reporters.

While Johnson eventually came to terms with his intimidating style, his former teammates agree the game is different now.

However, former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, who was behind the stumps when Hughes was struck, said sufficient changes to safety have been made since the accident.

“The game has changed for me forever”.

Hughes’ death is subject of a New South Wales coronial inquiry, and a separate Cricket Australia review into the causes and circumstances.

“In this space we’re doing a great deal to make the game better and hopefully we don’t see another incident like this again”.

D’Costa warned the situation could pose safety problems, especially with bowlers like Mitchell Starc, who clocked the fastest ball in Test history during the second Test in Perth.

The Blues will wear black armbands, as will all Shield players around the country, as a mark of respect to Hughes.

Friday’s match will be played at the same ground at which he was hit and numerous players who were on the field at the time will turn out against the Bulls.

The third and final match of Australia’s home series against New Zealand promises to push test cricket into a fearless, new world but players on both sides will also look back in sorrow a year after the tragic death of batsman Phillip Hughes.

“We always know that our mate is looking down on us and we’ll always do our best for him when we walk out in the field, as we have done in the last 12 months”.

“Obviously, it was a pretty hard time for us all coming here previous year just after the frightful incident”, Smith said.

A video will be played on the Adelaide Oval giant screens at 4.08pm (local time) following the first session of play to honour the 408th player to wear the baggy green.