Tributes pour in for tragic batsman Hughes

Hughes, who would have turned 26 on Sunday, died of the injuries he sustained while batting for South Australia against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” said a statement from Australian team doctor Peter Brukner.

Hughes, who was wearing a protective helmet, collapsed face first onto the pitch after being hit by a ball on the back, lower left side of his head from pace bowler Sean Abbott as he attempted a pull shot.

He was then given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen on the boundary line after being carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

Hughes was then rushed to the city’s St Vincent’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was being monitored in the intensive care unit.

Updates from Cricket Australia said Hughes remained in a critical condition after undergoing scans but the governing body today confirmed the worst.

Brukner added: “He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday.

“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his 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.

“Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected.”

Cricketing figures from around the world took to Twitter to register their sadness at the loss of Hughes.

Yorkshire head coach Jason Gillespie, said: “Can’t comprehend it. Shaking. Our deepest condolences to Phillip Hughes’s family and friends. #RIPPhillipHughes.”

Andrew Gale, the Yorkshire captain, addaed; “Absolute tragedy. RIP Phil Hughes. The lad was a great player. Taken far too early. Thoughts to his family and his team mates.”

Current Australia coach and former Yorkshire player Darren Lehmann alsom mourned Hughes.

“RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you ! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family xxxx,” he wrote on his Twitter feed.

Joe Root, who has just signed a contract extension with Yorkshire, added on his Twitter account: “Awful to wake up to the news of Phil Hughes! Tragic day for the sport. Thoughts go out to those close to him! #RIPPhilHughes.”

An ashen-faced Australia captain Michael Clarke said in a statement on behalf of the Hughes family: “We’re devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother Phillip. Cricket was Phillip’s life, and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We love you.”

Pakistan and New Zealand confirmed that a minute’s silence would be observed before they began day two of their Test match in Sharjah in memory of Hughes.

Following the incident, the match between New South Wales and South Australia was called off for the day before being abandoned entirely, while the latest round of Sheffield Shield games followed suit yesterday.

Hughes - well-known to English fans both internationally and domestically after spells with Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire - had been visited by several Australia team-mates.

Clarke, a close friend of Hughes, was said to be one of the first to visit St Vincent’s Hospital and comfort the player’s mother and sister, who were reportedly watching the game in the stands.

An injury to Clarke had led to talk of Hughes getting a recall for the the first Test against India, which is slated to begin next week in Brisbane but may now be in doubt of going ahead.

A 26-Test international, his last appearance for Australia came in a one-day international against Pakistan in October.

Hughes memorably scored two hundreds in just his second Test match against South Africa, with his last five-day appearance coming against England at Lord’s last summer.

In the Test prior to that he scored 81 at Trent Bridge alongside Ashton Agar in a last-wicket stand that nearly produced a memorable win.

In light of the sad news surrounding the tragic death of Hughes, the ECB has decided to postpone the release of the 2015 County fixtures until further notice.