Intro:

Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards, Former Australia Test captain Mark Taylor and New Zealand cricket legend Sir Richard Hadlee pay tribute to Phillip Hughes, ahead of Wednesday's funeral service for the Australian batsman in his hometown of Macksville, New South Wales.

Script:

SOUNDBITE: (English) Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards (on the funeral of Phillip Hughes):

"Yes, it's a very sad and sombre day for Australian cricket and world cricket. We've had so many messages from all over the world offering condolences to the Hughes family and to cricket. It has been a tragic accident that has upset us all - and to see a young, talented cricketer cut down in the prime of his career is just so sad and everybody's feeling it."

SOUNDBITE: (English) Cricket Australia chairman Wally Edwards (on the emotional reaction to the death of Phillip Hughes):

"At moments like these, we all have lost loved ones and it is tough - but we all have to work out that the world moves on - and cricket will go on. But to see such a talented cricketer that had, obviously, 10 years of his best cricket still to come, it's a great loss. A great loss for not only his family and team-mates, but for Australian cricket."

SOUNDBITE: (English) former Australia Test captain Mark Taylor (on the cricketing community's reaction to the death of Phillip Hughes):

"I think the sporting community, we're a competitive lot. We like to win - but we also don't like to see situation like we've seen over the last week. That really brings us together. So, I think it's terrific that there has been people come from the west....from Western Australia, that are over here for today (Wednesday). Richard Hadlee has turned up to represent New Zealand cricket. We've got David Richardson from the ICC, flown in from Dubai, for the funeral today. That shows you the impact......of Phil's impact on the game, and the impact of what happened to him last week.