Watch Michael Clarke’s emotional speech on Phil Hughes funeral [VIDEO + Text]

Phillip Hughes was remembered in an emotional funeral service in his hometown of Macksville, New South Wales, attended by thousands, including eight members of the Indian squad currently in Australia. As the mourners walked through the streets of Macksville, millions around the world stopped to remember the deceased cricketer.

India stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Duncan Fletcher and Team Director Ravi Shastri were part of the Indian contingent present at the services. Australian captain Michael Clarke was among host of Australian cricketers in attendance, all of them doing their best to stay composed and fight back the tears.

Clarke said: “It’s now forever the place where he fell. I stood at the wicket and knelt down to touch the grass and I swear he was with me, picking me up off my feet to check if I was OK, telling me we just needed to dig in, and get through to tea.”

“Telling me off for that loose shot I’d played, chatting about what movie we’d watch that night, and then passing on a useless fact about cows. I could see him swagger back to the other end, grin at the bowler, then call me through for a run with such a booming voice, a bloke in the car park could hear it.”

“Is this what people, indigenous people believe about the spirit of a person being connected on the land he walked? If so, they’re right about the SCG. His spirit has touched it, and it will forever be a safer place for me.”

“Phillip’s spirit, which is now part of the game forever, will act as a custodian of the game forever. We must listen to it, we must learn from it, we must dig in, dig in and get through to T. And we must play on. So rest in peace my little brother. I’ll see you out in the middle.”