Former Test fast bowler Doug Bollinger denies uttering the sledge "I'm going to kill you" on the day that Phillip Hughes was struck at the SCG two years ago, saying "I know in my heart I didn't say that".

On the first day of the inquest into Hughes' death before State Coroner Michael Barnes in Sydney, the nature of play and bowling tactics employed in the Sheffield Shield match between NSW and South Australia at the SCG in November 2014 were examined.

Hughes, batting for South Australia, was hit on the left side of his neck by a ball bowled by Sean Abbott on the first afternoon, and collapsed almost immediately. He died in hospital two days later.

Hughes' family - father Greg, mother Virginia, brother Jason and sister Megan - were in court on Monday as Bollinger and former Australian vice-captain Brad Haddin were among those to give evidence. The family's legal representative, Greg Melick SC, told the inquest they had concerns about the number of short balls bowled to Hughes that afternoon and about sledging in the lead-up to the blow. He said the family believed Hughes had been targeted in an "ungentlemanly way".