Sydney: As the 2000-strong crowd left the iconic Ladies and Members stand at the Sydney Cricket Ground (scg) after watching the Phillip Hughes funeral service on the giant screen, the bright sunny sky suddenly turned grey and it started to rain. Around the same time, 500kms away from Sydney, Hughes was put to rest in peace in his hometown of Macksville.


Cricket lovers watch the funeral proceedings of Phillip Hughes on the giant screen at Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday. Pics/AFP, Getty Images 

"Look, it's raining, or should we say even the heavens are weeping. Even the almighty is shedding some tears and why shouldn't there be any. We have all cried, so now the final farewell is from him," said an emotional Barbara Hart to her 10-year-old grandson Max.