Australian cricket team head coach Darren Lehmann has stated that batsman Phillip Hughes' passing is something one lives with every single day, and claimed that it is only the passing time that can make that pain more bearable.
Lehmann expressed his thanks to all those people from throughout Australia and around the world for their messages, gestures and quiet prayers of support that followed post Hughes' passing.
Lehmann wrote in his column for Cricket.com.au that his thanks also extends to members of the media who have shown great respect as they conveyed such sad news and pictures over the past week or more.
But, the coach states that they now understand that they must go on, and added that from the Australian cricket team's perspective, with a Test match against India beginning at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday, that means getting back to the practice routines and skills work that they use to get ready.
Lehmann branded the upcoming four-match Commonwealth Bank Test Series as a big one for Australia.
He stated that in all honesty only time would the answer as to how ready and in what sort of frame of mind their guys would be when what would undoubtedly be an emotional lead-up to the first match culminates in the opening delivery on Tuesday.
He claims that there is still a significant journey to get them to that point, but they expect every member of the squad to do what they can between now and then to ensure they are ready to play for their country, adding that it is what Hughes would have wanted.
Lehmann claimed that having dealt with a similar circumstance with the passing of his mentor and great friend David Hookes, he knows the effect that it has, admitting that it's something one lives with every single day, and it is only the passing time that can make that pain more bearable.
Lehmann also stated that in situations like this one does feel spent, because of the emotional energy that it requires.
The coach said that they lost one of their family, a player too young, and now they have got to deal with that the best they possibly could and make sure the players are in the best shape they could be when they take the field.
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