Phillip Hughes gave his life to cricket.
And cricket gave Phillip Hughes his life.
When Hughes scored twin centuries in his second Test – the youngest man in cricket's 135-year history to achieve the feat – the world hailed the arrival of a brilliant new star. Here was a batting prodigy from a tiny country town with a twinkle in his eye and a wizardry with the willow to fill the dreams of a generation. But those dreams were lost in November 2014 when Hughes was felled, playing the game he loved.
Told through the voices of those who knew him best, Phillip Hughes: The Official Biography is the incredible story of the boy from Macksville who became Australian Test cricketer 408. It charts the folkloric rise of the banana grower's son with the axe-handle batting technique, reliving his adventures on and off the field and celebrating his many triumphs and travails.
And it pays tribute to the fighting spirit and gift for friendship that made this unique young man a hero to millions.
Drawing on almost 100 interviews and featuring more than 200 photographs – among them scores of images and talismanic mementos from the Hughes family's personal collection – this is a stirring biography about the life of Phillip Hughes: son, brother, friend, farmer, cricketer, inspiration.
About the authors
Malcolm Knox is the cricket writer and former literary editor of The Sydney Morning Herald, and the winner of two Walkley Awards. His novels, which have been published internationally and translated into five languages, include A Private Man, winner of the Ned Kelly Award for Best First Novel; The Life; and most recently The Wonder Lover. His many non-fiction titles include The Greatest: The Players, the Moments, the Matches 1993–2008; The Captains: The Story Behind Australia's Second Most Important Job; and Bradman's War, shortlisted in the 2013 Prime Minister's Literary Awards.
Peter Lalor is the senior cricket correspondent for The Australian and author of various books including Blood Stain, which won the Ned Kelly Award for True Crime Writing; The Bridge: The Epic Story of an Australian Icon; and Barassi: The Biography. A journalist for three decades, he has won a number of awards for his cricket writing and has worked for many publications in a wide range of roles. He covered Phillip Hughes's debut Test in 2009 in South Africa and was at the SCG for his tragic last match in 2014.
245mm X 180mm