Phillip Hughes: Alastair Cook says cricket has 'never been safer'

Cricket has "never been safer" despite the death of Phillip Hughes, says England captain Alastair Cook.

The Australia batsman died on Thursday, two days after being struck in the neck by a short-pitched delivery during a domestic match in Sydney.

But Cook said: "It hasn't been a safer game ever than it is now. We've got to keep on playing cricket the same way.

"The safety provisions over the last few years have gone through the roof. Bouncers can't be outlawed."

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Fans on Twitter pay tribute to Hughes

Cook said players who played with Hughes in county cricket could be rested for Saturday's second one-day international against Sri Lanka.

They include Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn, team-mates of Hughes at Middlesex, and Moeen Ali, who played with him at Worcestershire.

"It's been a tough few days for everyone," Cook said, confirming that Morgan, Finn and Ali had access to "support networks".

Cook said he thought all three were in the right frame of mind to play against the Sri Lankans at the weekend but added: "We can make that call on Saturday if they don't feel they can."

There have been a number of tributes to Hughes.

On social media, players and fans have been posting photographs of their bats as a mark of respect to the 25-year-old, using the hashtags #putoutyourbats and #putyourbatsout.

The England team have also joined in, placing their bats in a row outside their dressing room in Colombo.

England bats in a row outside their dressing room

England are 1-0 down in the seven-match series against Sri Lanka after suffering a 25-run defeat in the first one-day international, but Cook took heart from England's battling performance.

"We know we've got to improve on a lot of areas but I was encouraged with the start of the tour," he said.