<p>Cricket bats were pictured leaning against front doors, stadiums and statues on Friday as the spontaneous #putoutyourbats tribute to fallen batsman Phillip Hughes went viral.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Pictures of bats posted with the hashtag flooded Twitter as ordinary fans and star players alike joined in the touching memorial, a day after the 25-year-old's death.<br /> West Indies legend Viv Richards was among the cricketers to contribute, and Google Australia's home page was decorated with the simple picture of a bat.<br /><br /> Previously anonymous Sydney cricket fan Paul D Taylor, who started the campaign, tweeted that he was "amazed and humbled" by the response. He politely said "thank you, but no thank you" to media outlets requesting interviews, explaining: "#putoutyourbats isn't about me. "It's just a way for all cricketers to show their respects to Phillip Hughes," Taylor wrote, under his handle @Squizabilly.<br /><br /> "We've all played cricket in one way or other. Backyard or beach cricket, no matter what level we've all grown up with a bat and ball. This is our way to connect and show our sadness."<br /><br /> Tributes to Hughes, who died from head injuries on Thursday two days after taking a ball to the head while batting, were taking place throughout the sporting world.Golf's world number one Rory McIlroy, playing at the Australian Open in Sydney, had a black ribbon pinned to his cap.<br /><br />Pakistan and New Zealand, who called off Thursday's play in the third Test in Sharjah, observed a minute's silence and wore black armbands in tribute when the match resumed on Friday.<br /><br /> Before heading out, the New Zealand players placed their bats outside the team's dressing with their national black caps on them to join the "#putoutyourbats" campaign.<br />Fans of Western Sydney Wanderers planned a minute's applause at 63 minutes -- Hughes' score when he was struck down -- of Saturday's derby match against Sydney FC.<br />And Australia's rugby team will wear black armbands when they play England at Twickenham on Saturday.<br /><br /> Tennis star Rafael Nadal and New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team were among the large and diverse group to send their condolences after the extremely rare fatality.<br />AFP</p>
<p>Cricket bats were pictured leaning against front doors, stadiums and statues on Friday as the spontaneous #putoutyourbats tribute to fallen batsman Phillip Hughes went viral.<br /><br /></p>.<p> Pictures of bats posted with the hashtag flooded Twitter as ordinary fans and star players alike joined in the touching memorial, a day after the 25-year-old's death.<br /> West Indies legend Viv Richards was among the cricketers to contribute, and Google Australia's home page was decorated with the simple picture of a bat.<br /><br /> Previously anonymous Sydney cricket fan Paul D Taylor, who started the campaign, tweeted that he was "amazed and humbled" by the response. He politely said "thank you, but no thank you" to media outlets requesting interviews, explaining: "#putoutyourbats isn't about me. "It's just a way for all cricketers to show their respects to Phillip Hughes," Taylor wrote, under his handle @Squizabilly.<br /><br /> "We've all played cricket in one way or other. Backyard or beach cricket, no matter what level we've all grown up with a bat and ball. This is our way to connect and show our sadness."<br /><br /> Tributes to Hughes, who died from head injuries on Thursday two days after taking a ball to the head while batting, were taking place throughout the sporting world.Golf's world number one Rory McIlroy, playing at the Australian Open in Sydney, had a black ribbon pinned to his cap.<br /><br />Pakistan and New Zealand, who called off Thursday's play in the third Test in Sharjah, observed a minute's silence and wore black armbands in tribute when the match resumed on Friday.<br /><br /> Before heading out, the New Zealand players placed their bats outside the team's dressing with their national black caps on them to join the "#putoutyourbats" campaign.<br />Fans of Western Sydney Wanderers planned a minute's applause at 63 minutes -- Hughes' score when he was struck down -- of Saturday's derby match against Sydney FC.<br />And Australia's rugby team will wear black armbands when they play England at Twickenham on Saturday.<br /><br /> Tennis star Rafael Nadal and New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team were among the large and diverse group to send their condolences after the extremely rare fatality.<br />AFP</p>