AUSTRALIAN CRICKETER PHIL Hughes has died overnight, two days after he sustained a serious head injury when he was struck by a ball during a domestic first-class match. He was 25.
Peter Brunker, Australian team doctor, confirmed the tragic news this morning, saying Hughes never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday.
Brukner said Hughes was not in pain before he died, and was surrounded by family and close friends.
“As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time,” Brukner said.
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Hughes’ mother and sister were at the match when he was injured, and kept vigil at the hospital. Close friend and Australia captain Michael Clarke was among dozens of former and current team mates and stars of the game who visited the hospital to offer their support to the batsman and his family.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Hughes as a “young man living out his dream,” adding “It’s a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family.”
“For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration,” he said.
Messages of support poured in from all around the world after Hughes stumbled, leaned over and then collapsed after being hit behind the left ear when he mis-timed a shot to a short-pitch delivery while batting for South Australia against New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday.
He underwent emergency surgery at nearby St Vincent’s Hospital and remained in a critical condition in an induced coma.
Mark Baker
Mark Baker
Hughes played 26 test matches for Australia after making his debut 2009, but despite a sparkling start to his international career at the age of 19, he was not able to earn a regular spot in the starting lineup.
After making an assured 75 in his first test innings against South Africa at Johannesburg, he posted centuries in each innings of his second test, becoming the youngest player ever to do that in test cricket.
But he struggled on the subsequent tour of England and was in and out of the Australian team four more times. He was on the verge of another test recall, with an assured 63, when he was fatally struck.
He also played 25 limited-overs internationals for Australia and more than 114 first-class matches in a career starting in 2007.
Very unlucky to be hit on the one unprotected spot.
Thoughts to his family. Devastating for then.
And spare a thought for poor Sean Abbott, the bowler, who must be feeling really bad today.
I hope in the aftermath of this tragedy that the cricket authorities dont tamper with the bouncer rules.Bouncers require a lot of skill to execute from the bowler and a lot of cunning to avoid them from the batsman.Every sport has its dangers.
Not normally a sort we would associate with danger but the bouncer is a delivery that needs to be looked at.
With a bouncer there is no attempt to hit the stumps but to hit the player instead. While I agree that it is an integral art of the game as it stands, I think it’s use should be very restricted to maybe one ball in 50 as opposed to the present set up.
Is it designed to actually hit the batsman or just meant to be an awkward delivery that the batsman swings at to hopefully get him out? Desperately sad what’s happened to him. RIP
It’s a bit of both, you set a field for the hook shot but you’re also trying to intimidate him. I really don’t think this should go as it’s part of the bowler’s attack and to much advantage will be given to the batsman. What happened was a tragic freak accident.
If the neck is a vulnerable area and part of the sport is to hit the batsman then it seems a no brainer to me that the helmet needs to be strengthened and shoulder protection too …RIP
The most important thing is that accidents like this don’t happen again. A cricket ball is the same weight as a hockey ball but contrast the helmets worn by hockey goalkeepers and cricket batsmen.
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Incredibly sad, RIP Phil Hughes
R.i.p
Great player at only 25 was entering the form of his career. A real tragedy. Feel for his family and the bowler.
News on channel ten, said the ball struck his neck which spilt the artery on caused the blood to go up to his brain. He was 26 on Sunday. Very sad.
Very sad that he died and also very upsetting for the bowler who now has his own life sentence to deal with. Thoughts with both.
So sad and so young too..RIP
Not a cricket fan but this is tragic. Thoughts with his family and the cricket community. RIP Sir.
Life is a gift that can be took away at any moment. Rest in peace
Absolutely shocking. Desperately sad. Feel also for the bowler – it was a freak accident.
Tragic alright, I feel a lot of sympathy for the bowler also, he must be going through hell at the moment.
Awful news, very unfortunate accident.
Poor lad RIP
I’m not a cricket fan but my God very sad news! RIP Phil Hughes…
Very unlucky to be hit on the one unprotected spot.
Thoughts to his family. Devastating for then.
And spare a thought for poor Sean Abbott, the bowler, who must be feeling really bad today.
I hope in the aftermath of this tragedy that the cricket authorities dont tamper with the bouncer rules.Bouncers require a lot of skill to execute from the bowler and a lot of cunning to avoid them from the batsman.Every sport has its dangers.
Maybe trial different helmet designs? It must be an awful time for the bowler. Your heart goes out to Phil Hughes and his family and friends.
3rd death this year in cricket.
Not normally a sort we would associate with danger but the bouncer is a delivery that needs to be looked at.
With a bouncer there is no attempt to hit the stumps but to hit the player instead. While I agree that it is an integral art of the game as it stands, I think it’s use should be very restricted to maybe one ball in 50 as opposed to the present set up.
Is it designed to actually hit the batsman or just meant to be an awkward delivery that the batsman swings at to hopefully get him out? Desperately sad what’s happened to him. RIP
It’s a bit of both, you set a field for the hook shot but you’re also trying to intimidate him. I really don’t think this should go as it’s part of the bowler’s attack and to much advantage will be given to the batsman. What happened was a tragic freak accident.
RIP; amazing that so few deaths occur in this sport, the batsman is basically fending off rocks thrown at him.
So sad! RIP! I also feel for The bowler SA, what must he be going through
Reading the tributes online, you’d need a heart of stone to keep it together.
Shocked R.I.P
RIP, this so tragic, I Feel sorry for the bowler
Some tragic head injuries have happened in sport this past year, Michael Schumacher, Jules Bianchi and now Phil Hughes. Very sad!!
If the neck is a vulnerable area and part of the sport is to hit the batsman then it seems a no brainer to me that the helmet needs to be strengthened and shoulder protection too …RIP
The most important thing is that accidents like this don’t happen again. A cricket ball is the same weight as a hockey ball but contrast the helmets worn by hockey goalkeepers and cricket batsmen.