Phil Hughes funeral: As it happened...

Macksville: Cricketing luminaries bid an emotional farewell to Phillip Hughes at a funeral service held in his home town Wednesday, as Australia stopped to remember the popular batsman whose death from a freak injury sent shockwaves through the sport.

A lone cricket bat rested against the coffin at a packed service in his former high school hall in Macksville on the New South Wales coast in front of his heartbroken parents and friends and a shattered Australian Test team.

Australia's PM Tony Abbott too was present at the funeral service for Hughes.

A sad, poignant, beautiful service to celebrate the life of Phillip Hughes today in Macksville #RIPPhillipHughes — Tony Abbott (@TonyAbbottMHR) December 3, 2014

• Sachin Tendulkar hails Phil's enthusiasm to learn and his drive for perfection.

Will miss you Phil. Your enthusiasm to learn and drive for perfection was most impressive. #FarewellHughes pic.twitter.com/5tpK0asSFg — sachin tendulkar (@sachin_rt) December 3, 2014

• Virat Kohli, Ravi Shastri, Duncan Fletcher, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma are representing India at the funeral. Also present are cricket legends Brian Lara and Shane Warne.

RIP #PhilHughes #FarewellHughes pic.twitter.com/zViCmDY7gs — BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2014

• Sean Abbott along with his girlfriend and New South Wales teammates is present as the procession moves towards its destination.
   
• Cricketers pay tribute to Phil Hughes.

Travel well phil and rest in peace. — Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) December 3, 2014

This funeral shows how many life's the little man touched, the game is surely poorer without you.#RIPPhillipHughes — Ashwin Ravichandran (@ashwinravi99) December 3, 2014

• Former Aussie batsman Dean Jones captures the emotions of mourners on the streets of Phil Hughes' hometown Macksville.

That's how much you were loved Hugo! #macksvilletradition #RIPHughesy pic.twitter.com/fZteeqRWbx — Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) December 3, 2014

• Scores of people have gathered on the streets of Macksville as the funeral procession starts through the town.
   
• PM Narendra Modi pays his tribute to Phil Hughes as well.

Heart-rending funeral in Australia. Phil Hughes, we will miss you. Your game & exuberance won you fans all over! RIP. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 3, 2014

• "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" by Elton John plays as the coffin is carried out by Pall Bearers Greg and Jason Hughes, Michael Clarke, Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergan, Matthew Day, Aaron Finch and Tom Cooper
   
• Cricket Australia, CEO James Sutherland currently speaking about Phil's cricketing journey. Says, "Every cricketer in the world joined Phillip's team".
   
• Mitchell Johnson in tears as he watches a video tribute of Hughes on the beamed on the screen.
   
• Clarke breaks down as he ends his tribute by saying, "We must dig in and get through to tea. Rest in peace my little brother, I'll see you out in the middle."
   
• Australian captain Michael Clarke is now delivering his tribute to Phillip Hughes. This must be tough on him. Clake already has a lump in his throat and he hasn't even begun.
   
• Corey Ireland, Phil's close friend, paying tribute to his mate 'Hughesy' and their shared love of cattle. He says, "He would add a new cow to his herd every time he got a 100, the herd grew quite quickly".
   
• Megan, Phil's sister speaks about her brother. She along with her mother were at SCG when the left-hander was struck by Sean Abbott's bouncer. She concludes her eulogy by saying, "Until next time, I love you big brother".
   
• "I couldn't have asked for a better little brother" - Jason Hughes (Phil's brother)
   
• Funeral service of Phil Hughes got underway with 'Forever Young' playing in the background.
   
• Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle arrives in Coffs Harbour with the Australian cricket team. The team will have a police escort to Macksville where they will join captain Michael Clarke, who has been on the NSW north coast since Monday, as per reports. Michael Clarke's wife pays tribute to Phillip Hughes, says 'We love you hugh dog'. Captioning an image of herself, her husband, and Hughes, Kyly Clarke farewelled their friend on Instagram.

RT @DerekP2ue: Macksville High School auditorium, where the funeral for Phillip Hughes will be held this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/GGYvG8ALNa — News Talk 2UE 954 (@NewsTalk2UE) December 3, 2014

Condolence motions for Phillip Hughes in @AuSenate right now. Talented, cheeky, "a lovely young man" Vale Phillip RIP — Senator Penny Wright (@PennyWrites) December 2, 2014

The Leader of the Government in the #Senate is making a statement about Phillip Hughes — Australian Senate (@AuSenate) December 2, 2014

PREPARING to celebrate #PhillipHughes. 63 bats laser etched with 63 moments. #408 #63notoutforever #loveourSCG pic.twitter.com/V56YawXyTv — Sydney Cricket Grnd (@scg) December 2, 2014

• Tributes pour in for batsman Phillip Hughes. Green & gold ribbons can be seen everywhere in Macksville, for Phillip Hughes' funeral at the high school today.

More than 5,000 people expected to attend funeral of Phillip Hughes at his former high school in Macksville. #9News pic.twitter.com/eVSqEjwzJI — Nine News Sydney (@9NewsSyd) December 2, 2014

• Australia will come to a standstill today, as some 5,000 mourners are scheduled to pack the Macksville High School auditorium to pay a final tribute to cricketer Phillip Hughes, News Nine reported. Prime Minister Tony Abbott is also due to attend the service at which Clarke, who was by Hughes` bedside as he lay stricken in a Sydney hospital, will speak in tribute and join family members and fellow Australia batsman Aaron Finch as a pallbearers.
   
• According to Cricket Australia, the entire Test squad and the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars will be in attendance, along with greats like Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Sir Richard Hadlee, Dean Jones, Shane Warne, Mike Hussey, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Brett Lee and Damien Martyn.
   
• Immediately following the service there will be a guard of honour on Park Street, which is adjacent to the school hall. According to reports, close family members and a select few cricketers will walk a short distance to the Macksville Ex-Services Club. Hughes' family have booked out the venue and it will be a private event. The family has declined to say where Hughes will be buried.

#PhillipHughes' funeral will be held on Wed at the Macksville High School sports hall, 2PM AEDT #RIPPhilHughes pic.twitter.com/7jc0DrZh04

— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 30, 2014

FUNERAL SCHEDULE

• Start of Service: 2 pm, Wednesday, December 3
• Celebrant: Father Michael Alcock Pall
• Bearers: Gregory Hughes, Jason Hughes, Michael Clarke, Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergan, Matthew Day, Aaron Finch, Tom Cooper. 
• Order of Service Introductory Rites
• Opening music Forever Young Welcome and opening prayer Liturgy of the Word First Reading: Read by James Henderson
• Responsorial Psalm Gospel: Read by Father Peter Jones
• Prayers of the Faithful: Read by Samantha Trodden
• The Lord's Prayer Eulogy from family: Nino Ramunno, Jason Hughes, Megan Hughes
• Tributes: Corey Ireland, Michael Clarke
• Final commendation and farewell Prayer of commendation
• Song of Farewell: Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me
   
• The entire Australian and Southern Stars squads will attend along with former national captains Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting, Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and NSW Premier Mike Baird will also pay their respects.

Australia announce the retirement of Phillip Hughes' number 64 shirt http://t.co/l9QyAHbBgj (Pic: Getty) pic.twitter.com/ALyBvjCITg — The Telegraph (@Telegraph) November 29, 2014

• Preparations were finalised at the Macksville High School hall yesterday, where thousands of mourners will gather for the service. Phillip Hughes' Funeral to be Live screened from Sydney Cricket Ground. Funeral organisers say it is much about the local community as the cricket family and the streets will be lined after the service.
   
• The service will be attended by the Australian squad, Indian stand-in skipper Virat Kohli, Indian team director Ravi Shastri and former players such as Steve Waugh, Shane Warne, Mark Taylor, Ricky Ponting, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer, Brett Lee, Brian Lara and former New Zealand skipper Richard Hadlee.
   
• All shops and businesses will remain close today and more than 5000 from a local population of 7000 will join the Hughes family, dignitaries, Test cricketers, former players and teammates are scheduled to participate in the farewell. The funeral is set to begin at 2pm. Channel Nine will be telecasting live from Macksville, Hughes’s hometown.
   
• “Everyone in this area should come and celebrate Phillip’s life. That’s what the family wants. And with TV and radio coverage, there is not one Australian who can’t be here with us to celebrate Phillip’s life,” Hughes manager James Henderson said. Clarke will be speaking at the funeral along with Cricket Australia (CA) CEO James Sutherland and a representative from Hughes’ family. Hughes’ father Greg, brother Jason and locals Corey Ireland, Mitchell Lonergan and Matthew Day will be the other pallbearers.
   
• South Australia’s Tom Cooper will help family and friends carry the coffin from the main hall at Macksville High School, Herald Sun reported.

Phillip Hughes' funeral will take place at 2.00pm today at Macksville High School. More info: http://t.co/zD8lzFh8JO pic.twitter.com/zvtFDeE7nj — Aust Cricketers Assn (@ACA_Players) December 2, 2014

Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke and opening batsman Aaron Finch will be pallbearers at Phillip Hughes' funeral to be held in Mackville today.

Phillip Hughes: Sport pays tribute http://t.co/3GL479VWiT #putyourbatsout pic.twitter.com/ClUOpRhFjK — BBC Sport (@BBCSport) November 29, 2014

The 25-year-old left-handed batsman Hughes died on November 27 after being hit by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on November 25. The cricket world had to deal with a tragedy of epic proportions last week, following the untimely demise of Australia’s promising young batsman Phillip Hughes.