Australia batsman Phil Hughes dies from head injuries, aged 25

Denzil Pinto 07:21 26/11/2014
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    • In mourning: Phil Hughes has died after being hit on the head with a cricket ball during a game in Sydney on Tuesday.

    Tributes have poured in from Australia and around the world following the death of batsman Phil Hughes at the age of 25.

    Hughes, 25, was carried off in a stretcher after being hit on the head by a Sean Abbott delivery during his South Australia side’s Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales on Tuesday.

    Placed in an induced coma, Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said he never regained consciousness and died at St Vincent’s hospital in Sydney. The head of trauma at St Vincent’s, Tony Grab later described the head injury as”catastrophic”, while Bruckner said it was a very rare type of injury of its kind.

    “It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said in a statement. Hughes was 25. 

    “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.”

    Having played 52 times for his country across all three formats, the left-hander showed potential with the bat and held some fantastic records. He became the first Australian to hit a ODI century on his debut against Sri Lanka in 2013.

    At 20, he was the youngest player to score twin centuries in a Test match in South Africa in 2009.

    And with his last Test appearance coming in August 2013 during the Ashes series, it was suggested he would be included in the squad for the forthcoming series against India.

    Emotional Australia captain Michael Clarke, who was praised by Brukner in supporting Hughes’ family, said: “It’s been a very difficult few days. Cricket was Phillip’s life.”

    And Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland paid tribute to a fantastic man. He said: “The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is now a real tragedy.

    “It’s an understatement to say we are devastated… but nothing compares to the loss felt by those close to him. He was a cherished son brother friend and teammate. In these darkest hours cricket puts its collective arms around the hughes family.

    “His best cricket was still ahead of him. Phillip was incredibly talented and dearly loved. Hughesey, Hughey or Hugh-dog, as he was known to his mates was much loved. But it was Phillip as a person we will miss most. Humble understated, and hard-working.

    “When the chips were down, or he had a setback, he simply worked harder. He will be sadly missed, and forever remembered.”

    Earlier, Australia coach Darren Lehmann paid the early tributes, tweeting “RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family”, while South Africa all-rounder AB de Villiers tweeted: “Heart broken! A very dark day. You will be missed, Phil Hughes. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family & friends.”

    Following the news, Pakistan and New Zealand have suspended play on Thursday in their final Test match in Sharjah.

    Twitter reaction to Phil Hughes’ death:

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