And so Simon rushed to the SCG as soon as news broke that Hughes had been hit in the head with a bouncer and had collapsed. “It was one of those phone calls where you drop everything you’re doing,” he says.

The Australian cricket team’s bats at The Adelaide Oval today for the First Test. Image Courtesty Cricket Association of Australia.

Simon, who is also the Senior Minister of Northbridge Anglican on Sydney’s lower north shore, wanted to be there for the NSW team (Sean Abbott who bowled the ball was on the NSW side along with a number of Hughes’ colleagues from the Test and One Day sides), as well as Hughes’ family and the wider cricketing fraternity. Also on hand were psychologists and chaplains from the SA and VIC teams.

Simon says his main role in times of stability is to be someone neutral, outside of the system; someone who can listen to players’ concerns, and if they want, be available to speak to people about spiritual things. During a time of tragedy, the same role is assumed, but with more opportunities to speak deeply.

“I think one of the dynamics involved for the players when they’re talking to even the psychologists employed by Cricket NSW is that it’s hard to feel completely free to talk about how they’re travelling, just because how they’re going may have an impact on selections. I do think it’s unique to have someone who’s not on the payroll.

“As a chaplain I’m also recognised as someone with a particular interest in spiritual things. Most of the time I’m not talking to the players about spiritual issues, but at a time like this there’s more of an expectation that I’d be open to those conversations, keen for them or that I might initiate them.”

Simon’s had a few conversations about spiritual things in the last fortnight, but mostly he says people have just been in shock and not quite in a place to talk about those things. Now, he says, many are looking to move on.

“I’m very conscious of the incredible capacity that human beings have to avoid uncomfortable questions that they’d rather not think about. Even in the last few days I’ve seen a real determination in players to get on with things and move past this.

“I think that’s a great shame, because they will miss the opportunity to think about life more deeply. At one level I understand that—it’s their job to play cricket—but I’d love them to seize this opportunity to think about what life is about and where God fits into that.”

Despite this, Simon says there have been plenty of opportunities to deepen relationships with players, their families and the staff of Cricket Australia and Cricket NSW during what’s been a testing time. It’s an opportunity he wouldn’t have had otherwise.

“I think often in the day-to-day work of being a chaplain I’ll wonder about its usefulness. I think it’s normal in ministry when you don’t see the obvious fruit from your labours to wonder. So It’s been interesting to reflect on how the Lord might have used that decade of building relationships to use this moment, and what might come from this moment with deeper relationships and greater opportunities to speak of the gospel in the years ahead. God has his good purposes and I’m happy to be caught up in those.”

Sports chaplaincy is a niche ministry available to those in Australia with the gifts and passion for it, with local clubs up to elite national teams requiring volunteer chaplains. Simon says for those who can’t serve in such a way, there are always things to pray for.

“I’d encourage people to pray that sports chaplains would be great servants of their clubs and teams and serve their way into opportunities of influence, that God would open doors for conversations about spiritual things, and that at times like this chaplains would be deeply compassionate go-to people for care and support.

“My greatest hope and prayer in the midst of this tragedy is that cricketers and those around the cricketing fraternity—and also beyond—will not miss the opportunity to think deeply about life and death and God and eternity in the midst of a moment like this and that we won’t just quickly move on and forget the things it’s taught us. So I’m praying for opportunities to talk about things like that with people in the cricketing fraternity.”

To find out more about sports chaplaincy go to: http://sportschaplaincy.com.au/
Read more about sports chaplaincy here: http://www-archive.biblesociety.org.au/news/sports-chaplains-demand-clubs

Feature image: Australian Cricket Association via Twitter.