Australia, Dec 03 (ANI): The funeral of Australian test cricketer Phillip Hughes began to the strains of a song entitled "Forever Young" in his home town on Wednesday. Eight days after Hughes was struck by a ball in the back of the head and six after he died of the catastrophic injuries that resulted, his family, friends and a host of cricketing greats gathered at Macksville High School to bid farewell to him. Father Michael Alcock welcomed the mourners in the small rural community halfway between Sydney and Brisbane. Hughes' brother Jason wrote his brother what he called the most important letter he would ever write. Australia captain Michael Clarke broke down in tears for the second time in a few days as he paid public tribute to his former team mate and friend, who would have been 26 last Sunday.