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Supporters rally as Hughes fights for life

Nov 26, 2014
Cricket Australia team doctor Peter Brukner briefs the media outside Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital last night.

Cricket Australia team doctor Peter Brukner briefs the media outside Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital last night.

Cricketer Phillip Hughes is to undergo further scans on Wednesday as he fights for his life in an induced coma in a Sydney hospital.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said Hughes remained in a critical condition and would have more scans later in the day.

“We hope to be able to provide you with further information after the scans,” Dr Brukner told media outside St Vincent’s Hospital.

Australian Test captain Michael Clarke was one of the first people to arrive at the hospital again on Wednesday morning, joining Hughes family.

Well wishes and support for Hughes have been flowing in from the cricket community around the world.

England captain Alastair Cook said he was in shock at the news.

Cook told the BBC the thoughts and prayers of the England team were with Hughes and his family.

Cricket Australia (CA) chief James Sutherland said he had received numerous messages of support, including from the New Zealand team which is touring the United Arab Emirates.

The 25-year-old was transported to hospital in a critical condition after being struck on the lower back of his neck by a Sean Abbott delivery during the second session of South Australia’s Sheffield Shield match with NSW.

CA were offering counselling for Australian and Sheffield Shield players following the incident, with Sutherland stressing that everyone in the wider cricketing community was feeling for Hughes and Abbott.

“Like everyone … there’s not very nice feelings at the moment,” he said.

“They’ll have all the counselling and other support they need right now.”

 

Phil Hughes receives treatment on-field at the SCG.

Phil Hughes receives treatment on-field at the SCG.

All three current Sheffield Shield matches have been abandoned in the wake of Hughes’ injury following consultations with the players and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

“Given how players across the country are feeling right now, it’s just not the day to be playing cricket and we understand that,” CA general manager of team performance Pat Howard said.

Messages from the cricket community flowed on social media for both Hughes and Abbott.

Former international Dean Jones tweeted: “Feeling for Phil Hughes after being hit. He is not in a good way! Stay strong @seanabbot77 … Not your fault young man”

Sutherland said the highest level of support was being offered to Abbott.

Immediately after Tuesday’s accident, Abbott was seen cradling the injured batsman.

“It says a lot about Sean doesn’t it?” Sutherland said on Wednesday.

“Sean will have all the support he needs around him.

“I’m sure his teammates and everyone don’t feel in any way ill of him for what happened.

“It’s a freak, freak incident that’s happened.”

Hughes made his Test debut in 2009 and has played 26 Tests for Australia, compiling 1535 runs at an average of 32.66.

With Australian selector Mark Waugh looking on in the SCG stands, Hughes had put together a composed 63 off 161 as he attempted to earn a Test recall for next week’s series opener against India.

Before the match he was considered a leading contender to replace Clarke in the Australian batting line-up for next week’s first Test against India with the Test captain struggling to recover from a hamstring injury.

Shaun Marsh is now the frontrunner to take Clarke’s spot in the Test lineup.

Cricket commentator Jim Maxwell said Hughes’ injury was the worst he had seen.

“It was just one of those horribly flukey things that can happen in the game,” he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

“Phil Hughes has ducked and weaved and hooked many short balls in his illustrious career.”

 

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