Channel Nine gives Sean Abbott 'respect' during Hughes' funeral

Covering the widely watched funeral of late Phillip Hughes, Channel Nine producers gave Sean Abbott his moment of space by deliberately keeping the camera away from the New South Wales pacer, while the proceedings went on live.

Covering the widely watched funeral of late Phillip Hughes, Channel Nine producers gave Sean Abbott his moment of space by deliberately keeping the camera away from the New South Wales pacer, while the proceedings went on live.

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In what probably would have been the toughest day for Abbott, whose bouncer was responsible for Hughes' injury, the media respected the pacer's sentiments by maintaining a distance.

Dressed in a dark blue suit, Abbott, 22, walked alongside his parents down the street towards the school hall where the funeral was held as photographers clicked a few pictures.

Abbott's girlfriend, Brier Neil, had grabbed the player's waist tightly as she walked next to him down Wallace Street, through the Macksville locals and into the sanctuary of the RSL club, reported Sydney Morning Herald.

Knowing the camera lenses were well and truly fixed on him, Abbott did not falter once.

Other mourners reached out to shake Abbott's hand, most notably former Test and one-day cricket player Dean Jones, before he joined his NSW teammates for the service.

His mother, Georgina, and father, Nathan, have stood with their eldest son as rock during the past week, as have dozens of cricketers who have supported the youngster in these terrible times.

After numerous counselling sessions that the young player was taken through post Hughes' demise two days after the fateful incident, Abbott had returned to the 'nets' on Tuesday.