Cricketer Tom Cooper, the batting partner of Phillip Hughes when he was fatally struck by a ball in 2014, has denied that fast bowler Doug Bollinger sledged the batsman, by saying "I'm going to kill you".
On the second day of the coronial inquest into Hughes' death, Cooper said "I'm confident it didn't happen," and went on to say "it's unlikely Doug would have said that".
When asked by the lawyer representing the family, Greg Melick, that he had told Phillip Hughes' brother Jason not long after the incident that Bollinger had made the comment on field, Cooper said it wasn't the case.
“I suggest you actually told Jason those words and you are now denying it?” Mr Melick, put to Cooper.
“No,” Cooper replied.
When asked about concerns that there were multiple short-pitched balls by the NSW team against Phillip Hughes, Cooper denied that the play on the day was “ungentlemanly”.
“I guess he was targeted,” Cooper said.
“I wouldn’t say in an ungentlemanly way. It wasn’t for any other reason than to stop the run rate.”
Phillip Hughes was struck on the left side of the neck while batting for his adopted state South Australia against NSW during a Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on 25th November 2014.
He died two days later in hospital.
The inquest continues.
With AAP
