Phillip Hughes' death has had such an impact on the cricket world that every Test- and cricket-playing nation had expressed their condolences to Cricket Australia, chief executive James Sutherland said on Friday.
Sutherland said the international response had been "enormous" since it was announced Hughes had died on Thursday afternoon. He was especially moved by a letter he received from Middlesex County Cricket Club in England, where Hughes played briefly in 2009 and averaged a staggering 143.5.
"He is and always will be fondly remembered here at Middlesex, even in the short time that he played for us. His average of 136.5 alone gives you an idea of the impression that he left on us. But most of all we remember a laid-back fun-filled young man who was kind to everyone and what a great talent he was," the letter read.
The county's cricket director, Angus Fraser, also penned a moving tribute of how the boy from Macksville made the seamless adjustment to life in London, aged 20. Keeping a promise to Hughes' mentor, Neil D'Costa, Fraser would often ask the youngster what he had been doing.
"With a glint in his eye and a smile on his face he'd always insist he was great, the flat was fine and that he had had a quiet night in," Fraser wrote on the club's website.
"Like most Aussies he was 'low maintenance' and in the end we both just ended up laughing when I asked the question."
Fraser said Hughes' approach to the game was a lesson to many players his senior, describing him as a "tremendous competitor".
Fraser recalled a confrontation Hughes had with the "formidable" former South African Test paceman Andre Nel during an innings of 195 against Surrey at The Oval.
"Nel had taken exception to the hiding he was receiving and bowled a beamer at Hughes," Fraser wrote.
"Even now I still have this wonderful vision of the diminutive Hughes following the bear-like Nel down the pitch to inform the bowler he was: 'weak, ******* weak, that is why you quit international cricket to play for Surrey'. Nel did not turn round to take him on."
Sutherland said the circumstances surrounding Hughes' death would lead to an examination of safety protocols.
While many have said no amount of legislation could have prevented the accident which caused Hughes' death, CA said something needed to be done in the interests of cricketers around the world.
"Statistics say it's clearly a freak incident but one freak incident is one freak incident too many," Sutherland said. "That puts us in a position of looking into that.
"We will immediately, in consultation with the manufacturers and the other safety providers or regulators, look into it to make sure these things are addressed and improved.
"It's a matter of interest not just for us here but for us in Australia and cricketers all over the world."
The future of short-pitched bowling is set to be a hot topic, though it's worth noting it was the lack of pace from a bouncer which deceived Hughes, who was attempting to play a pull shot.
"I think all of those things around safety need to be looked at and will be considered," Sutherland said.
"One of the things about the game of cricket, it's finely tuned balance between bat and ball, that's what the game is built on and those things will need to be very carefully considered."
Although it remains unclear if the first Test will go ahead, Sydney's under 21 Poidevin Gray Shield competition will continue this weekend. Junior and club cricket will also go ahead.
CA has urged clubs and associations to observe a minute's silence before each day's play and for players to wear black armbands in honour of Hughes.
Junior competitions have also been asked to allow batsmen to retire on 63, Hughes' score when he was felled on Tuesday, rather than the customary 50not out.
Although this has been one of the saddest weeks in the long history of the sport, Sutherland said cricket would emerge "stronger and better for this".
He said it was difficult to know how kids around the country would react to Hughes' death but said it would not stop fans around the country from continuing to love the game.
