Shock as Hughes dies from head injuries

Hughes collapsed after being hit by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a game, sending shockwaves through cricketing world

SYDNEY: Australian batsman Phillip Hughes died Thursday from a rare head injury after a sickening on-field blow in one of the highest-profile sporting fatalities since the death of Formula One great Ayrton Senna.

Hughes, who was due to celebrate his 26th birthday this weekend, never regained consciousness after being hit at the base of the skull by a rising ball while batting for South Australia against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

"It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away," said Australian team doctor Peter Brukner , adding later that he died from an injury to the neck that caused haemorrhage in the brain.

"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, who played 26 Tests, crumpled to the ground unconscious after the blow despite wearing a helmet. He underwent emergency surgery and had been in an induced coma since.

"Phillip took the blow at the side of the neck and as a result of that blow his vertebral artery, one of the main arteries leading to the brain, was compressed by the ball," explained Brukner.

"That caused the artery to split and for bleeding to go up into the brain, and he had a massive bleed into his brain.

"The condition is incredibly rare," he added, with only 100 cases ever reported and only one known incident as a result of a cricket ball.

His tragic death was one of the highest-profile sporting casualties since Senna was killed in an accident while leading the San Marino Grand Prix in 1994.

Senna's demise, which prompted a leap in safety standards in Formula One, remains one of sport's most haunting deaths in competition along with Cameroonian footballer Marc-Vivien Foe, who collapsed on the pitch and died during the 2003 Confederations Cup in France.

Test stars Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith were among a stream of personalities from the world of cricket who visited Hughes' bedside, hoping for the best, with emotions running high.

An inconsolable Australia captain Michael Clarke was an almost constant presence at his close friend's side at St Vincent's Hospital.
"We're devastated by the loss of our much loved son and brother, Phillip," his family said in a statement read out by a devastated Clarke.

"It has been a very difficult few days. We appreciate all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public."

News of his death broke just before long-time teammate Warner and his wife left the hospital in tears. Dozens more players were hugging and crying into each other's shoulders as they walked out minutes later.

"RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you ! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family xxxx," tweeted national coach Darren Lehmann, while Prime Minister Tony Abbott said it was a tragedy.

"Phillip Hughes was a young man living out his dreams. His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family," said Abbott.

"What happened has touched millions of Australians."

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said Hughes had been taken away too soon.

"It's an understatement to say that we are completely devastated. Our grief runs deep and the impact of Phillip's loss is enormous," he said in paying tribute to a "humble, understated and hard-working" man.

Hughes made his Test debut in South Africa in 2009 where he made 75 in the second innings at Johannesburg. The left-hander followed up in the second Test at Durban with centuries in both innings, amassing some 275 runs at the crease.

The runs dried up and despite playing 26 Tests he never secured a regular place in the national team, partly due to his perceived weakness against the short, rising ball.

But with doubts over the fitness of Clarke for the first Test against India next week in Brisbane, he was seen as a potential replacement.
That Test is now in doubt with many of those due to take part close friends of Hughes who will struggle to focus.

A woeful Sean Abbot walks out of the hospital after the news of Phillip Hughes' death. PHOTO: AFP

Waqar fears for Abbott's future after Hughes' death

Pakistan great Waqar Younis questioned whether Sean Abbott would continue in cricket after delivering the ball that led to the death on Thursday of Australian batsman Phillip Hughes.

"How will he [Abbott] continue?," Waqar, one of the outstanding fast bowlers of his generation and now Pakistan's coach, told AFP.

"He needs counselling, which I am sure must have started, and needs to stay calm," he added.

But former England fast bowler David Lawrence said he feared Abbott may never player cricket again as a result of the tragedy.

Lawrence is well-placed to understand Abbott's situation having, as a 24-year-old Gloucestershire paceman, bowled the ball that hit West Indies' batsman Phil Simmons – who wasn't wearing a helmet – flush on the head in a tour match at Bristol, south-west England.

Simmons, now the coach of Ireland, went on to make a full recovery but only after his heart stopped and undergoing emergency brain surgery.

"He collapsed. They rushed him to hospital, and were able to save his life and take a blood clot off his brain — and he subsequently went on to play again," Lawrence told BBC World News.

Lawrence said the fact he could talk to Simmons was a huge help and he wondered how Abbott would be able to continue bowling in the absence of such consolation.

"What gave me comfort was I was able to see Phil Simmons 48 hours after, and he was able to tell me it wasn't my fault," recalled the now 50-year-old Lawrence.

"The bowler in this instance wouldn't have been able to do that. Hughes didn't make a recovery, wasn't able to talk to him.

"So my thoughts go out to him as well – because whether he will come back from this or not, personally I don't think he'll play cricket again," added Lawrence, whose Test career was cut short by an horrific knee injury he suffered while running in to bowl against New Zealand at Wellington in 1992.

As well as condolences for Hughes, there has also been widespread sympathy from among the global cricket community for Abbott, with former Australia fast bowler Jason Gillespie, now the coach of English county champions Yorkshire telling Sky Sports: "Abbott is a lovely young kid who was just running in and doing his job, bowling balls and it was one of the last things that he would have expected.

"We are really feeling for him right now and everyone who was there."

So far, there have been no calls from within cricket for bouncers to be banned and Lawrence was adamant they remained a legitimate tactic.

"I don't think any fast bowler walks out there, looking to inflict danger on someone – or for them to end up in hospital, and lose their life," he said.

"It's a part of the game.

"You use it to 'rough up' a batsman, make him feel unsettled, and then you look possibly to pitch the ball up.

"I wouldn't like to see that taken away from the game."

Lawrence's view of the bouncer was supported by another ex-England paceman in Matthew Hoggard.

"You bowl it to be intimidating, but you don't bowl it to try and hurt people," Hoggard said.

"To bowl a ball that has resulted in somebody dying has got to be absolutely devastating."

Hoggard added he hoped Abbott would continue his bowling career, saying: "There's great things coming from him and a lot of people tipped him to play for Australia.

"Hopefully he can get the support around him and find the strength to carry on.

"I'm sure Phil would have wanted it because it was a tragic accident."

 

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