Australia captain Michael Clarke fought back tears yesterday as he gave an emotional tribute at the funeral of Phillip Hughes in Macksville, while thousands of mourners looked on.

The funeral of the former Test batsman, who died last week after being hit on the head by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG, was attended by the full Australia men’s and women’s squads and a host of major figures from the world of cricket.

Clarke was among the pallbearers and also gave a moving speech about his former teammate.

“He left a mark on our game that needs no embellishment,” the 33-year-old said. “I don’t know about you but I keep looking for him. I know it’s crazy but I expect any minute to take a call from him or to see his face pop around the corner.

“Is this what we call the ‘spirit?’ If so then his spirit is still with me and I hope it never leaves.”

He said Hughes had “the heart of a man who lived his life for this wonderful game we play,” adding: “His spirit has touched the game and the SCG will forever be a sacred ground for me.”

Clarke, his voice quaking, ended by echoing something Hughes used to tell him during matches, saying: “We must dig in and get through to tea and we must play on. So rest in peace, my little brother. I’ll see you out in the middle.”

The funeral was broadcast live around Australia and on video screens at the Adelaide Oval and the SCG, where 63 bats were displayed — each with an inscription of a special moment in the player’s career.

Hughes’s coffin was at the front of the hall, surrounded by flowers and cricket bats.

Hughes’s father Gregory and former state and international teammates Tom Cooper and Aaron Finch were also pallbearers. Cooper was batting with Hughes when he sustained the fatal injury.

Nino Ramunno delivered an emotional eulogy to his “one-of-a-kind” cousin.

He recounted childhood tales, from Hughes’s verdict on his first day at Homebush Boys High School — “It was ok, but there were no girls there!” — to how he begrudgingly agreed to his brother’s request to fill in for his cricket team, scoring 25 runs as a tail-ender.

Hughes was a “mummy’s boy,” who “often spent hours getting ready and certainly loved a mirror,” he joked, but was “at his happiest on the farm with his dad.”

Jason and Megan Hughes also read out letters to their brother.

“I miss you,” Jason said. “I’m so proud of you and thank you again for all the memories. I’ll love you now and forever.”

Megan said: “I’m so honoured to call you my brother, my best friend and my hero.”