Former Test captain Steve Waugh provided an insight into the impact Phillip Hughes' untimely death has had on young cricketers around the nation when he revealed his son Austin burst into tears when told the news.

Waugh said Hughes had talked cricket to his 14-year-old on a number of occasions and the former Test opener made an impression on him.

"A very uncomplicated [man]," Waugh told broadcaster Alan Jones. "I think what sums him up is the few times I went back to the change rooms and I'd take my young boy, Austin.

"He'd always say 'hello' to me and then have the long conversation with Austin, talk about cricket and how he was going and what he was doing. I think he could see himself in those younger players coming up and aspiring to play for Australia.

"I always respected the fact he talked to my son. In fact, when I told Austin yesterday that he'd passed away my young boy broke down in tears."

Waugh lamented that fate robbed Hughes and added he was also a cricketer who may've paid an early price for playing the game his own way.

"There was something about him," said Waugh. "He knew how to make runs, he loved batting and had that fire in the belly, you could see it in his eyes; he loved playing Test match cricket. He was destined for greatness."

"He was dropped five times in 26 Test matches and to put that in perspective, I never scored my first hundred until my 26th Test match. So, he certainly wasn't given the extended run that he required and all young players need that time and support and belief they're going to be there for a long time.

"It was a stop-start career. In fact, he was picked when he was out of form and dropped when he was in form. It was very difficult for Phil to establish himself in the side."

While Hughes had critics who questioned his technique and footwork, Waugh thought it was important people appreciated the boy who grew up in a banana plantation in Macksville and realised how serious he was about his craft and developing his skills.

"Before he was picked in the Australian side, Justin Langer [and I] bailed him up at the Allan Border Medal and while everyone else was partying and enjoying themselves he had us in a corner asking questions about cricket for three or four hours," he said.

"You could just sense he was destined to play for Australia that was what he always wanted to do and he wanted to gather as much knowledge as he could so when he got to that level he was equipped to handle it. There was definitely something in his eyes ... you knew this kid was special."