A DEEPLY emotional Michael Clarke broke down as he delivered a touching but heartbreaking tribute to his friend and former teammate Phillip Hughes.

Clarke’s heartfelt statement has sparked an outpouring of support for the Australian captain, who began his statement at the SCG by telling the assembled press: “I’ll do my best, guys.”

He continued: “Words cannot express the loss we all feel as a team right now.

“To Greg, Virginia, Jason and Megan, we share in the deep pain you are feeling.”

Watch Michael Clarke’s full statement in the video above

The tears began to flow, but he carried on.

“Apart from when he was home on the farm with his beloved cattle, Hughesy was at his happiest when he was playing cricket for his country with his mates.

“Things were always put in perspective when Hughesy said, ‘Where else would you rather be, boys, than playing cricket for your country?’

“We’re going to miss that cheeky grin and that twinkle in his eye.

“He epitomised what the baggy green was about and what it means to us all.

“The world lost one of its great blokes this week and we are all poorer for it.

“Our promise to Hughesy’s family is that we will do everything we can to honour his memory.”

Clarke said he asked Cricket Australia on Friday night if Hughes’ Australian one-day international shirt number 64 could be retired, to which they agreed.

“That means so much,” Clarke added.

“His legacy of trying to improve each and every day will drive us for the rest of our lives.

“We’d like to thank everyone, both here and overseas, for the touching tributes over the recent days.”

Clarke then took a number of deep breaths as he battled to stay composed.

“Our dressing room will never be the same,” he said.

“We loved him and always will.

“Rest in peace, Brussy.”

MORE: Richie Benaud’s tribute to Hughes

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Clarke’s emotional tribute sparked an outpouring of support on Twitter.

I found this impossible to watch and impossible not to watch. Well played Michael Clarke http://t.co/PiOsQvVBBX — Anthony Sharwood (@antsharwood) November 29, 2014

Heartbreaking. My wife and I are crying. Bravo Michael Clarke. How tough was it to deliver that statement. — Ray Gatt (@Gatty54) November 28, 2014

Sat in Sydney Airport crying my eyes out at Michael Clarke's tribute to Phil Hughes. Heart goes out to all of them #RIPPhilHughes #63notout — Emma Storey (@JournoSpursEmma) November 29, 2014

How did Michael Clarke do that? Just heart wrenching. What a mate, what a person, what a captain #63notout #408 — Oliver Caffrey (@SN_OliverCaff) November 29, 2014

Michael Clarke. All class. The game might never be the same again but the dignity & respect shown by those who play it will endure forever. — Glenn McFarlane (@MaccaHeraldSun) November 29, 2014

Michael Clarke is Pharlap. All bloody heart. That statement would've been tougher then any innings. Plenty of pain & love right there.. — Kurt Fearnley (@kurtfearnley) November 29, 2014

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner paid an enormous tribute to Clarke during Thursday’s press conference addressing Hughes’ tragic death at the age of 25, saying Clarke had impressed him immensely with his support for the Hughes family.

“There is one man I’d like to pay particular tribute to, and that’s our Australian captain Michael Clarke,” Brukner said.

“Phillip’s always been like a little brother to Michael and Michael’s efforts over the past 48 hours to support the family — the family were obviously going through a difficult time — but I’m not sure they would have coped without Michael’s assistance.

“I was just enormously impressed at the work that he did and the genuine care and love that he gave to the Hughes family, and I think he deserves enormous credit.”

Clarke returned to the SCG on Friday to pay respect to his mate, walking into the ground arm in arm with his Australian teammate David Warner.

Grade cricket in Sydney and Adelaide, the two cities were Hughes plied his trade as a professional cricketer, has been cancelled today but club and school games are going ahead as planned.

Cricket Australia has asked clubs to consider a range of tributes, including black armbands, and has asked the mandatory retirement score for junior players be lifted from the traditional 50 to 63.

Hughes was unbeaten on 63 batting for South Australia when he was felled by a bouncer.

The left-hander was Australia’s 408th Test player, with the number set to be painted on cricket fields around the country.