Pop music legend Elton John has paid tribute to Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes and expressed support for bowler Sean Abbott during a concert in Germany.
Sir John dedicated his 1974 hit Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me to 25-year-old Hughes, who died in Sydney on Thursday, two days after he was struck on the head by a cricket ball while playing in a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
"I am a big huge sports fan and I love cricket, which you don't know anything about over here," John told the audience in Munich on Thursday.
"Today an Australian batsman called Phil Hughes died of injuries he received while batting in Sydney in Australia, and the man who bowled the ball is a 22-year-old called Sean Abbott and it wasn't his fault, it was a freak accident.
"But, I want to dedicate this song to the memory of Phil Hughes and to the Australian team and all the cricketers in Australia who knew him because, he gave me so much pleasure.
"To Sean Abbott, all I can say is that it's going to take you a long time to get over this but you have a huge future ahead of you so please don't give up. This is for you Phil, wherever you are."
