The cricket world is in shock today following the death of Phillip Hughes, at the age of 25.

Hippocrates said sport was the preserver of health, writes Brendan O'Brien.

Australia batsman Phil Hughes remained in an induced coma and critical condition last night after being felled by a ‘bouncer’ at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Monday.

Ashton Agar’s record-breaking Test debut will give Englishmen nightmares for years to come, but was just a “dream come true” for the Australian teenager.

Ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne suffered “mental harm and distress” after his phone messages were hacked by the News of the World, the High Court was told.

IRELAND made it three wins out of three Intercontinental Cup matches with a 133-run win over Canada at Clontarf yesterday.

First Division roundup

AUSTRALIAN stand-in captain Michael Clarke yesterday insisted his side had no case to answer regarding cheating accusations which marred the third day of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

Family and friends of George Best’s father Dickie paid tribute today to a remarkable man with a twinkle in his eye.

INTEL’S sales forecast disappointed investors and signalled the world’s biggest chip-maker may be losing market share to Advanced Micro Devices.

George Best’s grave is being kept under 24-hour guard, it was revealed today.

The North today witnessed an extraordinary outpouring of grief and affection for soccer legend George Best as his funeral ceremony began in Stormont’s Parliament Buildings.

George Best’s coffin arrived back in Northern Ireland today draped in a Manchester United flag.

The body of George Best will today make its final journey back to his native city of Belfast.

George Best’s coffin will be brought to Northern Ireland tomorrow by a private plane.

Manchester United and Northern Ireland footballing greats are to carry George Best’s coffin, it was confirmed tonight.

Airlines will be urged to lay on extra flights to Belfast amid intense demand to get to George Best’s funeral, it emerged tonight.

The return of George Best's body to the North could be delayed, according to the soccer legend's agent.

GRIEVING but dignified, the family of George Best faced the world’s media only moments after he died.

“Manchester United’s glorious history has been created by people like George Best,” says Bobby Charlton, who spent almost 10 years alongside him at Old Trafford.

GEORGE BEST will be buried in Belfast next week in one of the biggest funerals the city has ever seen, it was confirmed yesterday.

George Best will be buried in Belfast in one of the biggest funerals the city has ever seen, it was confirmed today.

It was the sad news they had been expecting, but George Best’s family were clearly still devastated when they spoke of his death today.

Doctors warned family and fans of George Best to prepare for the worst today after the football legend suffered a “really bad night”.

Fears were growing for George Best today after he suffered a “really bad night”.

Doctors treating George Best were today hoping that he could recover further and come off his ventilator.

George Best has briefly opened his eyes in hospital but is not yet awake, his agent said today.

George Best remained “desperately ill” today as he continued his fight for life in hospital.

GEORGE BEST cannot continue to survive “day after day after day” without showing signs of improvement, his doctor said yesterday.

There has been “no change” in George Best’s condition overnight, his doctor said today.

Football legend George Best remains on life support today as his family maintains a vigil around his bedside.

George Best’s family were gathered round his bedside tonight as the football legend fought for his life.

GEORGE BEST yesterday got out of his hospital bed and spoke to friends and family as doctors admitted he could leave intensive care within days.

George Best today got out of his hospital bed and spoke to friends and family as doctors admitted he could leave his intensive care unit within days.

MANCHESTER UNITED and Northern Ireland legend George Best opened his eyes yesterday and started to breathe without the help of a ventilator.

Manchester United legend George Best is starting to wake up and doctors are “very pleased with him”, his agent said today.

FORMER football star Denis Law last night wept after seeing ex-team-mate George Best lying gravely ill in a hospital bed, as fans prayed for the fellow Manchester United legend.

Alex Ferguson has expressed his hope that George Best pulls through his current illness.

Manchester United legend George Best is continuing to battle for life as the doctor in charge of his care said: “We are not giving up”.

SOCCER legend George Best’s highs and lows have always been played out in the public spotlight.

Soccer legend George Best was tonight continuing to battle for life as the doctor in charge of his care said: “We are not giving up”.

Football legend George Best was today seriously ill but “stable” as he fights for his life in hospital.