Nov 30, 1988: Born in Macksville, New South Wales. Hughes grew up on the family’s banana farm, developed into a left-handed batsman and moved to Sydney at 16 to further his cricketing ambitions.

Nov 20-23, 2007: Makes first-class debut for New South Wales against Tasmania in Sydney a few days before his 19th birthday, scoring 51 off 199 balls as NSW win by an innings.

Feb 26, 2009: Makes Test debut for Australia against South Africa in Johannesburg. Lasts just four balls in his first knock against the pace of Dale Steyn, but bounces back with 75 in the second as Australia win.

March 6-10, 2009: Scores a century in both innings (115 and 160) in the second Test in Durban — at 20, the youngest player to achieve the feat, breaking George Headley’s 79-year-old record.

2010: Reduced to back-up Test opener after a torrid 2009 Ashes series in England.

2011: Regains his place for the three-match series in Sri Lanka and in the final Test scores 126.

Jan 11, 2013: Makes ODI debut against Sri Lanka in Melbourne and scores a fine 112.

Oct 5, 2014: Plays his only T20 International against Pakistan in Dubai, scoring six runs as Australia win.

Nov 27, 2014: Three days before his 26th birthday, dies from injuries sustained when he was hit by a short-pitched delivery on the base of his skull at a domestic match in Sydney.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2014