Cancer struck commentating legend Richie Benaud lends voice to pay tribute to late Philip Hughes

Former Australian cricketer and legendary commentator Richie Benaud, who is battling cancer, lent his evocative narration to Channel 9's powerful tribute to the deceased batsman, Phillip Hughes.

In a beautiful snapshot of the late cricketer's life, Benaud's tribute of sorts paid homage to the boy from Macksville, who died on Thursday of a 'catastrophic' brain injury after being struck by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on Tuesday.

As a 30-second slide show of Hughes' early cricketing career and family photos plays, Benaud reads that a boy, just beginning, 25 years of age and baggy green number 408, News.com.au reported.

Benaud goes on saying that Hughes was his father's best mate, son, brother, fighter, friend and an inspiration.

The voice of cricket ends the narrative with 'Phillip Hughes, forever rest in peace, son'.

The touching clip is expected to air across the weekend, a powerful farewell from the game's official broadcasting network, the report added.