State memorial for Hughes in Sydney

Agencies Sydney, November 28 Phillip Hughes will be honoured with a state memorial in Sydney next week, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird has announced. Australia opener Hughes died on Thursday at the age of 25, two days after being struck on the neck by a bouncer during the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The memorial, a date for which is yet to be confirmed, will also be held at the SCG.Such memorials are usually reserved for political figures but Baird confirmed Hughes would also be afforded the honour after an incredible outpouring of grief in the wake of his tragic death. "This service has been arranged in consultation with Phillip’s family, and it will be an opportunity for the entire community to pay their respects to a much-loved Australian and New South Welshman," Baird said in a statement. Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland added: "We would like to thank the Premier for his decision to grant a state memorial service for Phillip and for putting the Hughes family's views first in offering such a service to the family. "The SCG is a place that Phillip cherished so dearly, and it is a ground where Phillip provided cricket fans from around the world with so much joy." Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones said: "It's important for the community to be able to come together as one to remember Phillip, and we thank the Premier for continuing his staunch support of cricket in NSW and giving us the ability to host this service here in Sydney. "Phillip made his first class debut at the SCG and we believe this is a fitting way to celebrate his life."