Flags will be flown at half-mast and players will wear black armbands before the start of the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test in Adelaide on December 6 as Australia remembers former Test opener Philip Hughes who passed away this month in 2014 after being struck by a ball during a domestic competition. Hughes’ death came just days before his 26th birthday. The incident left the sports community distraught.

“We understand this will be a time of reflection for the many people who knew and admired Phillip Hughes,” CA boss Nick Hockley said.

“We wanted to ensure that the Hughes family, particularly, were comfortable with any commemorations and that we celebrate Phillip’s life and incredible achievements appropriately.”

In a chat with Codesports, Cooper, a former South Australia batsman recalled about his days spent with Hughes and how the Australian Test cricketer once celebrated one of his cows’ wins at a competition after posting a ton in a domestic game at MCG.

“Coops, get your clothes on, we’re going out. My heifer’s just won at the Macksville Show!” So we were out because one of his cows had just won first prize, not because he’d just peeled off a hundred. He had the bling and loved the bright lights. But he talked with his mum and dad daily. Everything was about his cows. He had his farm setup. He talked about that more than he talked about cricket. If his cow didn’t win he’d be shattered. But with cricket, and obviously he was very mentally strong, but it was just a game,” recalled Cooper while speaking with Codesports.