WESTERN Zone batsman Jordan Moran is struggling to come to terms with the death of his mate Phillip Hughes.
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But he never once considered pulling out of the NSW Country Championships in Griffith, according to team manager David Redden.
"Phil's from Macksville and Jordan's from Bellingen. They played in the same association and played rep cricket together," Mr Redden said.
"When everything went pear shaped Jordan was in contact with the family and was on standby to go and assist if need be. Jordan knew Phillip had passed before the rest of us."
Mr Redden said Jordan, 28, was shaken by the death of his good mate.
"Jordan's a happy, vibrant character and last night he was struggling quite a lot but he got through it. He's alright. He had his mates around him.
"He's in a good frame of mind today."
Mr Redden said Jordan described Hughes as a "top bloke".
"He was a typical country bloke who loved a coffee and a chat or a quiet ale. There was press this morning from England about how good a man he was. There's often Australians that go over there and are full of their own s***, but that wasn't Hughes," Mr Redden said.
"He was always one of the boys and was universally liked in cricket."
A minute of silence at Exies Oval at 9.30am preceded the start of the NSW Country Championships.
Mr Redden said he believed the decision to play on was the right one.
"I think they have made the right decision to continue," he said.
"It's on all our minds. It's awful - he's a country cricketer from Macksville so we're all feeling it. I shed a tear or two last night - it's a very sad day."
Mr Redden said players from all teams would get together for a drink following today's matches.
"It's on our minds and we'll make sure we play the game in the right spirit," he said.
Jodie Patterson, the mother of Western Zone bowler Ben Patterson, said she was struggling to come to terms with the death.
"It was a freak accident," she said.
"It's on my mind every day."
Mrs Patterson said she sympathised with Sean Abbott and other fast bowlers.
"I really feel for them," she said.
Mrs Patterson is in Griffith from Dubbo with Ben for the weekend.