Clarke voices special tribute to Hughes

“I never had a blood brother, but he was my brother.”

Injured Australian captain Michael Clarke has made a special tribute to Phillip Hughes ahead of the emotional first Test match at the place “where his spirit lives forever”.

“This was his (Hughes) ground, the Sydney Cricket Ground.”

Clarke said Hughes’ “love of life” was an inspiration, helping the Australian skipper get out of bed each morning.

He added that he was still expecting a phone call from Hugh-dog more than a month on from his death.

Clarke signed off the piece on the Nine Network by saying he will carry memories of Hughes, “a teammate for life”, with him for the rest of his career.

“I will never play another Test match again without the number 408 (Phillip Hughes Test number) on my shirt.”

Clarke told Mark Nicholas after the tribute that he hoped it would make his family proud as “that’s the most important thing”.

The Hughes family will watch the Fourth Test against India from a private box at the SCG.