Phillip Hughes’ teammates have admitted the game of cricket changed irrevocably the day their mate died.

The 25-year-old passed away one year ago on Friday after being hit in the head by a bouncer at the SCG two days earlier, dissecting his vertebral artery which led to a subarachnoid haemorrhage in the brain.

The sombre anniversary will be commemorated before the second Test between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

The loss of Hughes shattered the myth that elite sportsmen are invincible, and quelled the predatory instincts of many fast bowlers.

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Recently retired Australian batsman Chris Rogers said the game mellowed after Hughes’ passing.

“I think there is a lot more care and concern for opposition these days,” Rogers, now a commentator on ABC Radio, told The New Daily.

“And maybe even the real ruthlessness is not quite as prevalent any more.

“There is still a lot of aggression, and rightfully so, but there is a lot more awareness and care shown in how teams play.”

Phil Hughes photographed in Perth in 2010.

Rogers knows just how “ruthless” a fast bowler could be. He opened the batting in 25 matches for Australia, and played a further 297 first class games, predominantly as an opener.

The 2013/14 Ashes winner said he felt bowlers do not use bouncers just for intimidation anymore.

“It is a tactic that you have to keep in the game otherwise it becomes too batsmen-friendly,” Rogers said.

“And it needs to stay in the game but I do think guys use it now more as a tactic to get people out rather than just as an intimidation factor … that’s a change, not the same ruthlessness.”

Rogers suffered from a dizzy spell at Lord’s after a series of hits to the head. Photo: AAP

He also revealed bowlers in the Australian camp pulled back their bouncers during practice net sessions.

“From what I saw among the guys even bowling in the nets, bowlers weren’t running down bowling bouncers all the time,” Rogers said.

“All of a sudden they were pitching it up, they were more worried about what could happen.”

Rogers noted he thought New Zealand had toned down their bouncer bowling this series in Australia, and that the cricketing community “became a lot more considerate of what the ramifications could be”.

“That invincibility disappeared,” he said.

Firebrand Johnson calmed his approach

Another recently retired Australian, Mitchell Johnson, also admitted the game had changed.

Johnson said he changed after the accident. Photo: Getty

He said his terrifying brand of fast bowling was definitely stripped back.

“It still hurts to this day [Hughes’ death]. It definitely affected players around the world and I think it changed the game,” Johnson told ABC’s 7.30 last week.

“I had that Ashes series where I was really aggressive and bowling a lot of short balls and I did hit players.

“And it made me think, was I doing the right thing? You know, was I playing in the spirit of the game?

“That was my job as a fast bowler, was to be aggressive, bowl some short balls, be in their face a little bit.”

Johnson also reluctantly admitted that striking fear in the heart of batsmen actually made him feel “special”.

Clarke: ‘it will be a tough day’

Former Australian Test captain Michael Clarke was one of Hughes’ closest friends.

Clarke and Hughes were very close mates through their time playing together. Photo: Getty

He was also the face of the player response to the harrowing ordeal a year ago.

“It’s flown [the year], to be honest, it’s obviously been tough,” Clarke told AAP.

“I think about him every day … It’s going to be a really tough day and I think the guys playing are going to do it tough,” he said.

“I think it’s really important that we continue to support the Hughes family and show our respect there.”

Clarke said he regularly speaks to Hughes’ sister Megan and commended the family on the release of their official biography detailing the young cricketer’s life.

“I think the book gives a really good indication of the type of person Phillip was,” he said. “His family should be really proud.”

In a column for News Corp, one of Hughes’ opening partners David Warner said the team will certainly have the tragedy on their minds when they play on Friday.

“It’s our responsibility as players this week to respect the wishes of Phil’s family and keep our tributes low key,” Warner wrote. “As a team, what happened last year is always going to be in the back of our minds.

“But we’ve just got to go out there and play in the right spirit.”

– with AAP and ABC