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Cook won't change style after Hughes tragedy

Alastair Cook revealed that he a struck up a relationship with Phillip Hughes during last summer's Ashes series © Getty Images

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England captain Alastair Cook has said he will not change the way he plays after the tragic death of Phil Hughes earlier this week.

Hughes died in Sydney on Thursday, two days after being struck on the back of the neck as he attempted to avoid a bouncer from New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott during a Sheffield Shield clash.

Cook admitted that Saturday's second ODI between Sri Lanka and England is likely to be played in a more sombre mood, but said the players owed it to Hughes to continue to compete with as much commitment as ever.

"Naturally tomorrow it may be different," Cook said ahead of the match in Colombo. "Both sides agreed that, out of respect for Phillip, the game should go ahead, and also to show our respects in the right way.

"This is a tragic accident but we shouldn't change the way that cricket is played. That's not the right way to go about it. We will go about it in the same way tomorrow.

"Competitive sports needs that balance. We should show our respect at the start and then play the game in his honour. It's a reminder how dangerous it can be. Thankfully, it doesn't happen very often.

"But I won't change the way I play. It's a natural thing. You can't have those doubts in the back of your mind because you won't play well."

Cook called on the cricketing world to inspect the issue of player safety, but admitted improvements had been made since he started playing the game.

"The manufacturers and authorities should try to make cricket as safe as we can, improve player safety," he added. "There have been major improvements just in the time I've been a player, especially helmets."

Cook also spoke of his memories of Hughes, revealing that the pair struck up a friendship during England's victorious Ashes summer last year.

"I remember talking to him a lot after the Ashes series in 2013," Cook said. "We had something in common, both being left-handed opening batsman and his love of farming as well - with his cattle.

"It gave us some common ground to talk on and he was one of the guys I would always talk to after a game. Yesterday was a sad day and tragic for cricket and my words can't convey how sad we all are.

"He would have gone on and been a great Test batsman, there's no doubt about that. He would have only got better.

"We are part of the cricket family and the world is closer now than ever, with all these different franchises. We all know each other better than ever now."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd