Hughes 'almost didn't play' fateful match

A new book on the life of Phillip Hughes reveals harrowing details about the late cricketer's final days.

In Phillip Hughes: The Official Biography, Greg Hughes says his son was battling a virus leading into the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and NSW and almost didn't play.

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But Greg says Phillip's determination to impress Test selectors following an injury to Michael Clarke won out.

"He wasn't well," Greg said. "But he was so determined to score runs.

"He'd thought he’d batted himself out of the Test team when he didn't make runs in the previous match, but now it was clear that Clarkey was struggling with his hamstring, Phillip knew how important this match was, and he saw that bigger picture."

David Warner, Hughes' good friend and opponent on the day, also describes Phillip's will to put up a big score that day at the SCG.

"He was making a statement," Warner is quoted as saying in the book.

"He was going to go big. He was sick the night before, he was sick that morning, but he had to play because there was a Test match around the corner."

NSW player Nic Maddinson says it was clear Hughes was in for a big score that day.

"A few guys had spoken to him before, and he'd pinpointed that game," Maddinson said.

"All the big guns were playing for the Blues and he said he was going to score a hundred. We were never going to get him out."

Hughes was 63 not out when he was struck by a bouncer and collapsed.

He was taken to St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney but died two days later having never regained consciousness.

Chairman of selectors Rod Marsh revealed Hughes was in their Test plans going forward.

"It became obvious to all and sundry that he would replace (Chris) Rogers as Warner’s opening partner (in the future)," Marsh said.

"That was the master plan going forward. I think that was the way it was going to be. We were very confident he would have a long and successful Test match career ... It's hard to say, 'Yes, he would definitely have been chosen.'

"However, he was always going to put his name up in front of the selectors ... how many runs would he have got in that innings, who knows? He was just as likely to peel off 200 and make his case irresistible."

Phillip Hughes: The Official Biography can be bought here.

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