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Sydney: Australia and New South Wales batsman Phil Hughes has died at the age of 25 at a Sydney hospital after succumbing to an injury sustained from being hit on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield game on Tuesday.
Hughes, who in 2009 became the youngest player to score a century in each innings of a Test when he achieved the feat against South Africa in his second appearance, had been in critical condition after doctors performed emergency brain surgery. He played 26 Tests, 25 ODIs and a solitary Twenty20 international.
Several of Hughes' former NSW team-mates paid regular visits to St Vincent's Hospital in the past few days, including key members of the Australian squad for the upcoming Brisbane Test against India, such as captain Michael Clarke, David Warner, Brad Haddin, Aaron Finch and Steven Smith.
Among those who were in the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Hughes was felled by a nasty short deliver were Haddin, Warner, Shane Watson and Nathan Lyon.
The SCG match was subsequently cancelled and two other Shield matches in Brisbane and Melbourne were called off on Wednesday after consultation between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association. Cricket Australia has announced counselling for any players effected by the sickening injury to Hughes, and there is some doubt over whether the Gabba Test starting December 4 will go ahead as scheduled.
Hughes made a strong start in Tests, scoring 75 in the second innings of his debut in Johannesburg in early 2009 and then 115 and 160 in the next match in Durban. However, his form deteriorated in the subsequent
He was considered a strong prospect to replace Clarke in Australia's side for Brisbane should the Test skipper not be passed fit.
