Sydney, Nov 27:
Promising Australian batsman Philip Hughes today died of a head injury sustained two days ago during a domestic match, leaving the cricket fraternity completely devastated over the “real-life tragedy”.
The 25-year-old cricketer, who was in contention for a Test recall for the coming series against India, succumbed to his injuries at the St Vincent’s Hospital, where he was battling for life after being hit on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbot.
“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.
“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.”
Hughes played 26 Tests in his short-career, scoring 1,535 runs at 32.65 with three centuries and seven fifties. His final Test was at Lord’s in July 2013.
He also played 25 ODIs, and remains the only Australian to score a century on ODI debut. His final ODI came last month against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, one week after he played his lone T20 international against the same opposition in Dubai.
“As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip’s family and friends at this incredibly sad time,” Brukner said.
“Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected.”
As a result of his death, India’s two-day warm-up game against CA invitational XI was cancelled while the second day’s play of the third and final Test match between Pakistan and New Zealand was abandoned as a mark of respect for the young cricketer.
Hughes’ teammates and cricketers the world over, including batting legend Sachin Tendulkar, expressed shock over his tragic death and offered deepest condolences to his family.
The Indian cricket team also joined in the condolences.
“The touring Indian team joins the cricketing fraternity across the world in offering condolences to the family of Phillip Hughes, who has departed from our midst,” said Team India in a statement released through Cricket Australia.
“In this moment of grief, we pray that they are bestowed with divine strength to overcome this unfortunate tragedy.
“As fellow cricketers we cherish the memories of playing along with him and deeply respect his contribution to the game of cricket,” the statement said.
The incident happened when Hughes was batting for South Australia during a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales on Tuesday. He was batting on 63 when he was struck by the bouncer below the helmet while trying to play a hook shot. (PTI)
He was administered CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the ground before being taken to hospital. He underwent a 90-minute emergency operation before being placed in an induced coma in the Intensive Care Unit of the St Vincent’s Hospital but he never regained consciousness.
Devastated at the sad demise of Hughes, Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland described the incident as a “real-life tragedy”.
“The word tragedy gets used far too often in sport but this freak accident is now a real-life tragedy. Just shy of his 26th birthday, Phillip has been taken from us far too young,” Sutherland said.
“It’s an understatement to say that we are completely devastated. Our grief runs deep and the impact of Phillip’s loss is enormous but nothing compares to the loss felt by those closest to him.
“Phillip was a cherished son, brother, friend and team mate … In these darkest of hours cricket puts its collective arms around the Hughes family. To his parents Virginia and Greg and siblings Megan and Jason we offer our love and endless support,” he said.
Australia’s captain Michael Clarke also read out a statement on behalf of the Hughes family.
“We are devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother Phillip,” Clarke read.
“It has been a very difficult few days. We appreciated all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public.
“Cricket was Phillip’s life, and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent’s Hospital and Cricket NSW medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you.”
Reactions also poured in from the International Cricket Council (ICC) and various other cricket boards like Pakistan, New Zealand, Bangladesh and England.
Ever since the incident took place on Tuesday, many of Hughes’ teammates and friends have spent time in the hospital, offering support to the family.
Clarke, a long-time teammate and friend, was a constant presence at the hospital. Besides, Brad Haddin, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc, Daniel Smith and coach Darren Lehmann all visited the hospital.
On Tuesday, traumatised players from the New South Wales, including Abbot, and South Australia sides were offered counselling.
This is not the first time that a cricketer has died on the field. Indian cricketer Raman Lamba died in 1998 after being struck in the temple by a cricket ball hit by a Bangladesh batsman. He was 38.
Pakistan wicket-keeper Abdul Aziz was struck on the chest by a ball, collapsed and never regained consciousness during the 1958-59 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. He died on the way to the hospital. He was 17.
Former Indian captain Nari Contractor had a similar life threatening experience when he was hit on the head by Charlie Griffith during the 1961-62 series in the West Indies. He needed more than one emergency brain operation, and never played Test cricket again.
In another incident, a horrific eye injury had forced South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher to retire from cricket in 2012. He had lost the lens, iris and pupil in his left eye after a being hit by a bail that flew back off the top of the wicket during his country’s tour match against Somerset. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel