30 December,2011 07:50 AM IST | | IANS
Australia's axed Test opener Phil Hughes was punched by a stranger while he was drinking, and lost his shirt during a melee that took place at the Star Hotel in Macksville on Boxing Day.
Hughes, who spent the day at the Bowraville Races before arriving at the Star Hotel, was involved in a bust-up with another patron Monday night. They were involved in a scuffle and the cricketer was escorted from the premises by pub security. The incident wasn't reported to police.
Hughes' manager James Henderson said that, while there was an altercation, Hughes was not the instigator.
"Phil was with a big group of friends and family and they were approached by another guy who had had a bit to drink and was giving (Hughes) some lip.
The man who punched Phil just came at Phil and hit him for whatever reason and he was later escorted from the premises," Henderson was quoted as saying by Herald Sun.u00a0
