After the emotion of Phillip Hughes’ funeral, Australia’s cricketers now face the testing task of preparing for next week’s first Test in Adelaide.
A who’s who of past and present cricketers joined locals in farewelling the 25-year-old in Macksville on the NSW north coast on Wednesday.
But with the schedule already shunted back to allow players time to mourn, the show must now go on for the distraught playing group.
Not that thoughts of Hughes will be far from the team during a busy summer that includes a home World Cup campaign.
READ MORE: Thousands farewell Phillip Hughes
The first Test against India starting in Adelaide on Tuesday will be particularly poignant as it will be played at Hughes’ adopted Adelaide Oval.
“Cricket is possessed of a rich poetic heart. But today that heart is heavy with sorrow,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said at Hughes’ funeral.
“Cricket’s heart has been pierced by pain but it will never stop beating. It will find its rhythm next week in Adelaide and beyond.”
Following Wednesday night’s wake in Macksville, the players are due to fly out of Coffs Harbour on Thursday.
Among them will be Test captain Michael Clarke, who delivered an emotional tribute to his brother at a packed Macksville Recreation Centre on Wednesday.
“We must play on,” Clarke said, who also completed the duties of pallbearer.
“So rest in peace my little brother, see you out in the middle.”
Former captain Mark Taylor says next week’s first Test will be part of the healing process for Australia’s grieving cricketers.
“It’ll be a chance for the players in particular to move on from this,” Taylor said before Wednesday’s service.
“I also think it’s going to be difficult for them to move on and I think until they start playing cricket again they won’t actually move on.
“So I think it will be part of the healing process when they do play in Adelaide next Tuesday.”
Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards praised the spirit not only of the country’s elite cricketers but an entire nation following Wednesday’s moving service in Hughes’ home town.
“It’s a very sad and sombre day for Australian cricket and indeed world cricket,” Edwards said.
“It has been a tragic accident. It’s upset us all and to see a young, talented cricketer cut down in the prime of his career is just so sad and everybody’s feeling it.”
Edwards said it was “quite remarkable” that some 5000 mourners from all parts of the world could descend on a small community of 7000 people to celebrate a young cricketer’s life.
“Cricket Australia has great gratitude to the amount of people who have come and the messages that we’ve got,” he said.
“In moments like these, when we’ve lost loved ones, it is tough.
“But we all have to work out that the world goes on and cricket will go on.
“But to see such a talented cricketer that obviously had 10 years of his best cricket still to come, it’s a great loss.
“Not only a great loss for his family and teammates but for Australian cricket.”
Edwards said Hughes had left memories on Australians that would last “for decades” and urged fans to attend the first Test en masse.
“It will be a very emotional match and hopefully everyone can get through it and put on a good show,” he said.
“I’m sure being in his home state, as it is right now, I’m sure all South Australians will want to pay tribute.”
