Michael Clarke pays tribute to 'brother' Hughes in heartfelt column.

Australian captain Michael Clarke has put pen to paper in a heartfelt tribute to his friend, team-mate and “brother” Phillip Hughes after his tragic passing on Thursday.

In a piece for The Sunday Telegraph, Clarke celebrated Hughes’s 26th birthday by reflecting on his life on and off the field, describing him as “one of life’s true characters and gentlemen”.

“His cricketing achievements – of which there were many – really play second fiddle to the human qualities that he exhibited,” Clarke wrote.

“Loyal to a fault, eternally optimistic, kind hearted, wicked sense of humour, a child like verve for life … I really could go on and on.

“I met him as a boy of 17, when he came down to Sydney from Macksville to play for my club Western Suburbs.

“I was drawn to him instantly, falling for his cheeky grin and love of life. Phillip truly was uncomplicated – what you saw was what you got.”

Mamamia’s gallery of the touching photos shared by Michael Clarke on his Instagram yesterday (post continues after gallery):

Clarke talked of Hughes’s country upbringing, describing his parents Greg and Virginia as “salt of the earth Aussies”, and recounted his love of life on the farm.

” I remember the last time we batted together. We would meet in the middle of the pitch and I would be asking him whether the ball was moving in the air or off the deck,” Clarke remembered.

“All he could do was talk about his cattle. What that man didn’t know about cows wasn’t worth knowing.

“He was a world champion at expressing the smallest facts about Black Angus in particular. He loved them so much he was trying to convince me to run a herd of them on my own farm.”

Hughes spent much of his career fighting to regain or retain his place in the Australian Test side, but Clarke praised his resilience and humility, saying he was “as mentally tough as they came”.

“If he had a tough conversation with a selector he would nod, agree he needed to work harder, grin because he felt bad for the person delivering the message and then get on with it.

“You knew deep down he was shattered because playing cricket for his country meant everything to him.

“But his head wouldn’t drop because he knew his team-mates didn’t need that – he was honoured to be running drinks as 12th man for his mates and he went out of his way to show that.”

Clarke described Hughes as a “prodigious talent”.

“He may not have had textbook technique – show me someone who does – but what this man could do is score runs for fun,” Clarke said.

“At only 25 years of age he had 26 centuries to his name in first class cricket, and I have no doubt he would have made it 27 last Tuesday.

“What an amazing talent.

“I said a couple of months ago that I had no doubt Phillip would have gone on to play 100 tests, such was his determination and skill.”

Clarke struggled through a heartbreaking speech on Saturday morning, in which he revealed Hughes’s ODI number of 64 would be retired in his honour, but used this piece to honour the life and celebrate his birthday.

“I heard a mate a few days ago refer to Phillip’s life through this line from an old military poem and I think it perfectly sums him up,” Clarke said.

“One crowded hour of glorious life is worth an age without a name.

“Phillip was taken from all of us way too soon, but his attitude to life, his achievements on and off the field, and the hundreds of friends he made along the way all demonstrate that he did indeed live a crowded hour.”

“That his career, and his life, was cut short in his prime is incredibly unfair.

“I don’t have a blood brother, but I am very proud to have called Phillip my brother. I am a better man for having known him.

“Vale Hugh Dog. I will miss you forever, but I will not forget.

“Happy birthday bro.”

Hughes’s funeral will be held in his home town of Macksville at 2:00pm (AEDT) on Wednesday, in the sports hall of his high school.

Cricket Australia (CA) has opted to postpone Australia’s first Test against India at the Gabba as players continue to struggle with grief after the death of Hughes.

CLICK THROUGH a gallery of tributes for Phillip Hughes.

This article was originally published on the ABC here and has been republished with full permission.