The cricket world has been engulfed by grief following the death of Hughes on Thursday  after he was struck on the head by a bouncer last Tuesday  playing for South Australia against NSW.

 All Sydney first grade matches were called off  on Saturday  with Cricket Illawarra officials also meeting before deciding to play their Junior and Senior rounds on Saturday. 

 ‘‘The Cricket Illawarra community is united in grief over the tragic death of Phillip Hughes,’’ Cricket Illawarra said in a statement.

  ‘‘CI wishes to send our sincerest condolences to the family and many friends of Phillip. After much deliberation, CI will proceed with Senior and Junior matches this Saturday with all players to wear black armbands and every match to observe a minute’s silence preceding each game.

‘‘Cricket this Saturday is a celebration of cricket, in memory of the many achievements that Phillip Hughes made to our great game.’’

  South Coast players will also mark Hughes’s passing at their matches.

‘‘On behalf of everyone in South Coast Cricket we offer our sincere condolences to the Hughes family,’’  South Coast Cricket Association president Tony Panecasio posted the competition’s Facebook site.

‘‘Words cannot express the sense of loss the wider cricket community is feeling. Unless directed otherwise all games will go ahead and could all teams Junior and Senior wear black arm bands as a tribute to a young legend taken away far too soon. RIP Phillip Hughes.’’

Meanwhile, Corrimal skipper Rob Fisher has been suspended for three playing days following his behaviour in the compulsory umpires and captains meeting following last Saturday’s  game against Wollongong.

  Fisher was reported over his behaviour by umpires Darren Sutherland and Steve Saye and found guilty at a CI judiciary hearing on Thursday. 

 Fisher spoke to the Mercury after last Saturday’s game expressing his anger at some players within the Illawarra rep team opposing him being appointed captain for the country championships.

 Fisher was already serving a two-game suspended sentence and was given a one playing day ban by the judiciary, leaving him to miss Saturday’s  one day round, plus the round seven one-dayer and the opening day of the Twenty20 comp on December 13.

 In Saturday's  round six, Wests Illawarra host Corrimal, Port Kembla are at home to Dapto, Northern Districts host Wollongong, University welcome Helensburgh and Keira host Balgownie.

Ladder: Helensburgh 40, University 29, Corrimal 29, Port Kembla 27, Balgownie 24, Wests Illawarra 17, Dapto 16, Northern Districts 15, Wollongong 12, Keira 5.

ILLAWARRA CRICKET

ROUND 6 (One-Dayers)

Wests Illawarra v Corrimal at Figtree Oval

Port Kembla v Dapto at King George Oval

Northern Districts v Wollongong at Hollymount Park.

University v Helensburgh at Uni Oval

Keira v Balgownie at Keira Oval