Australian cricketer Phil Hughes is in critical condition after undergoing emergency surgery for a severe head injury suffered when he was struck on the helmet by a ball, Reuters reports.
Cricket world rallies round Phil Hughes after injury to Australian batsman http://t.co/Jqya1M6VHl via @guardian
— The Guardian (@guardian) November 25, 2014
The 25-year-old batsman is in intensive care in a Sydney hospital and his condition is not expected to become clear for the next day or two.
“We're all in shock,” Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland told reporters in Melbourne. “All we know is that it's serious and he's fortunate to be in the best possible place right now with experts all around him.”
Fitted with a ventilator to aid his breathing, Hughes left the Sydney Cricket Ground in an induced coma, having collapsed to the ground when hit by the delivery from New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott.
Hughes, who had been touted to replace injured Australia captain Michael Clarke for next week's test match against India, had scored 63 runs for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield match before being hit.
Apparently dazed by the blow, the left-hander stooped and put his hands on his knees before falling face first onto the pitch, prompting players and medical staff to rush to his aid.
