Last updated at 04:38
Family, friends, dignitaries and team-mates have turned out for the funeral of Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes.
The 25-year-old batsman died two days after being hit by a ball during a match in Sydney on 25 November.
His death stunned Australia, where cricket is considered the national game, and prompted the rescheduling of the upcoming Test series against India.
Wednesday's service was broadcast live on national television and on big screens in Australia's major cities.
It was also shown at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where Hughes suffered the fatal injury during a state match last Tuesday.
Around 1,000 people packed into Macksville High School, which Hughes attended, for the funeral as thousands more watched on screens outside.
Joining the parents of Hughes, Greg and Virginia, and his siblings, Jason and Megan, were Australia captain Michael Clarke and Sean Abbott, the bowler whose delivery caused the fatal injury to Hughes.
Former Australia internationals Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Steve Waugh and Justin Langer were also among the mourners.
They were joined by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott and cricketing legends from around the world, including former New Zealand all-rounder Sir Richard Hadlee and West Indies batsman Brian Lara.
Clarke paid an emotional tribute to Hughes during the 80-minute service.
'Phillip's spirit, which is now part of our game forever, will act as a custodian of the sport we all love,' said Clarke.
'We must listen to it, we must cherish it, we must learn from it. We must dig in... We must dig in, and get through to tea. And we must play on. So rest in peace my little brother, I'll see you out in the middle.'
Hughes, who would have been 26 on 30 November, was in line for a recall to the Australia Test side for the forthcoming series against India.
The number 63 - the runs he had scored when he was fatally injured - has become inextricably linked with his death, as has the social media campaign that urged people to remember the batsman by placing cricket bats outside homes, workplaces and at sports grounds.
Macksville, with a population of just 2,500, lies on Australia's east coast, in the state of New South Wales.
Father Michael Alcock told mourners: 'We gather to celebrate his 26 years of life. That is what we are doing here this afternoon.
'To those both near and far whom his life has touched, we pray that today we will feel some consolation as we celebrate his life.'
Among those to send their condolence messages was West Indies great Sir Viv Richards, who tweeted: 'My heart goes out to the family, friends & the people of Macksville honouring their favourite son Phillip today. Viv.'
The service opened with the song Forever Young and closed with Elton John's Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.
The local community also took part in a public procession that followed the hearse at the conclusion of the service.
Posted by Unknown on Tuesday, December 2, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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