Phillip Hughes' dad and Australia captain Michael Clarke visit cricketer's favourite pub

Australia captain Michael Clarke met with Phillip Hughes's father, Greg, in a pub in the tragic batsman's New South Wales home town on Monday ahead of the funeral for the fallen star.They were also joined at The Star Hotel by former Australia leg-spinner Stuart MacGill and a group of friends as they prepared to say goodbye to Hughes.The 25-year-old batsman died last week in shocking circumstances while playing for South Australia in Sydney, having been struck on the back of the head after missing a shot played at a bouncer.Clarke, MacGill and Greg Hughes gathered at one of Phillip Hughes's favourite pubs in Macksville, as the town continued to pay tribute to their lost son.Looking over the Nambucca River and supported by a group of friends, they comforted each other in the wake of the cricketer's death, surrounded by the memories of the young cricketer's childhood.The group of friends smiled, laughed, and were frequently hugged and comforted by townspeople, as they remembered the cricketer with the cheeky smile who tragically died on Thursday.Clarke arrived in Hughes's home town in northern NSW on Monday to help his best mate's parents, Greg and Virginia, prepare for Wednesday's funeral in Macksville.The small town is also expected to see a number of cricket greats arrive for the sombre occasion including Shane Warne, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.Macksville will be transformed into a cricket community with the former team-mates from Hughes's debut Test, such as Simon Katich and Mike Hussey, also expected to be among the crowd.Legends Justin Langer, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden are also expected to be on the list of attendees.The entire South Australian state team is expected to show their respects while there will be a number of representatives from other state sides including his former NSW squad.Not just from across the nation but Macksville will see the presence of international guests including stand in India captain Virat Kohli who will be joined by team director Ravi Shastri and coach Duncan Fletcher.Clarke's trip to Macksville also comes as confirmation came through of the first Test match of the summer, which is set to take place in Adelaide next week.Phillip Hughes died after two days at St Vincent's Hospital, after he suffered a 'catastrophic' injury whilst batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield clash against NSW on Tuesday.Macksville, a small town in NSW's mid north coast, was not only Phillip Hughes's past but also the place he dreamed of for his future.Many Australian children dream of playing cricket for Australia. With this dream realised, before his death, Phillip already had his future plans in place and hoped to return to Macksville to work on the farm with his treasured father Greg, rearing cattle and growing bananas.He was regarded by young Macksville locals as a hero and locals say that the young members of the community are struggling to cope with the loss of Phillip Hughes: the young man who encouraged them to work hard for their dreams.'R.I.P. Phillip (Boofa). You will always be my hero,' wrote a young friend, who left flowers as a tribute on the cricket nets behind Phillip Hughes's family home.'Happy birthday Pillip (sic). You will be missed by everyone in Macksvill (sic),' another child wrote, leaving his note in the place where Hughes's brilliant yet unfinished cricket career began.The young batsman will be farewelled on Wednesday in the country town.A local, who saw Hughes grow up and play both NRL and cricket alongside his two sons, says the young children in the community will be amongst those that miss the cricketer the most.'Juniors idolised him. They absolutely thought the world of him,' he said.'Whenever Hughes played, the whole town would gather to watch him. Everyone would come down to the pub to watch our boy.'But it was the young ones who loved him the most. They were so excited about "Phil-Hughes-from-Macksville" as they'd often call him.''When he came back to town he'd always say hey and give them the time of day.'Hughes 'never forgot where he came from' and remained incredibly close with his family, including his father Greg, his mother Virginia, sister Megan and brother Jason.'Every year, he donated shirts and items for "Give Me 5 For Kids" to help raise money for the local community,' said Joe Welsh, from the Macksville newsagency.'He did a lot for charities.'Phillip and his big brother Jason were both keen sportsmen and Phillip was a 'remarkable talent' from a young age.'He worked so hard. He never gave up. From the time he was eight years old, he was playing against people that were three years older than him,' said the family friend, who wished to remain anonymous.'And he was incredible. Making centuries every game.'You just knew he was something special.'The family friend says that it is 'unfair' that the youngster, who was always 'playing cricket or selling cricket raffle tickets' was killed by a cricket ball.'None of us can believe it. It doesn't make sense. It's not fair.'Despite a hectic schedule, Hughes took every possible opportunity to return home.'He'd always come home and say g'day to everyone, he'd always go with his dad down to the RSL, or The Star Hotel or The Nambucca Hotel to catch up with everyone and have a bit of a punt,' Mr Welsh said.'No matter what happened, Phil never changed. He was so funny.'The town is covered in beautiful tributes, with photographs of their beloved 'Boofa' and messages, including one promising 'we are all teammates now.'In two days, a tribute book has already collected more than 1000 signatures from locals, in a town with a population of 'around 3000'.'We've already needed to buy a new book! Everyone's pulling together for the family,' said Mr Welsh.'Phil idolised his mum and dad and they idolised him. They had a wonderful relationship.'The local community were a constant support for Phil, through his ups and downs as he fought for his place in the Australian team.'When Phil came back from England a big crew of people went up to Brisbane, hoping to see him play.'He didn't make it but oh, that was life. We were still so excited,' said Mr Welsh.With tears in his eyes, their family friend says nothing will stop the people from Macksville playing cricket like they used to with Phil.In his family's statement, they explained that their son 'lived for cricket'.'Phil wouldn't have wanted the game to change,' says their friend.'He loved a short ball. He'd want the game to go on.' Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke arrived in Phillip Hughes' home town in northern New South Wales on Monday to help his best mate's parents, Greg and Virginia, prepare for Wednesday's funeral in Macksville.Clarke, 33, has won wide admiration for the leadership he has shown throughout the ordeal, including from the Prime Minister during a parliamentary condolence motion.His trip to Macksville comes as Cricket Australia confirmed the first test match of the summer will take place in Adelaide on December 9, the ABC reports.As Australian players struggle to cope with the grief of losing their close mate and Indian officials confirming they will work with whatever rescheduling is proposed by Cricket Australia.It has now been announced that Adelaide - at Phillip Hughes' home ground - will now host the first test match of the summer next week, starting on Tuesday rather than the previously slotted Friday.That would see the Brisbane match between Australia and India squeezed in before the Boxing Day Test, with a start on Wednesday, December 17.Too grief stricken to finish reading out a tribute at a media conference on Saturday, Clarke summed up how distraught he was on Instagram on Sunday morning by saying: 'What I would give for just one more day.'The photos illustrate the irreplaceable bond that the two cricketers had as Clarke flooded his Instagram account with the fun times they shared both on and off the field.One photo of the two cricketers on the field has the words: 'You will stand with me every time I walk out onto that ground.''Brothers for life' is the comment Clarke posted next to a selfie a night out where he jokingly described them as the 'KINGS of Trivia Night'.He also posted a photo of the two of them with other team mates alongside the words: 'Brothers in arms.'One of many of Clarke's tweets said 'Happy birthday 408. Life will never be the same' - referring to Hughes being the 408th Australian to play test cricket. Many of the extended cricket family posted their own heartfelt words on social media throughout the day including former Australian cricketers Darren Lehmann and Craig McDermott - who commented on Hughes' 'cheeky smile'. Team mate Nathan Lyon tweeted saying how much the team missed the much-loved cricketer.Good mate and Rabbitohs player Greg Inglis, who is another to hail from Macksville in northern NSW, posted a heartbreaking birthday message to Hughes saying: 'Makes it even harder today. Happy birthday champion.'Clarke made reference to Hughes' cheeky smile in two posts saying: 'You are all teeeth bro' and another simply saying: 'What a smile.'He also showed his deep admiration for Hughes saying: 'This boy could do everything!'On the eve of Hughes' birthday, a night vigil was held in his hometown of Macksville in NSW.The locals came together for a minute's silence for Hughes at 8.15pm on Saturday followed by a lone bagpiper playing Amazing Grace.Hughes' life support was turned off on Thursday, two days after he was struck in the head with a ball during a match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.