Hughes critical after emergency surgery

By
AFP
|
Hughes critical after emergency surgery
SYDNEY: Australian batsman Phil Hughes was fighting for his life following emergency surgery Tuesday after he was knocked out by a bouncer in a freak incident which shocked cricket.

The 25-year-old, who is pressing for a Test recall, crashed to the ground unconscious after the heavy blow to the lower head and was rushed to hospital from the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Television images showed the helmeted Hughes, who had scored a composed 63 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield game, standing dazed before going down face-first following the rising delivery from New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott.

New South Wales players, including Test colleagues David Warner and Brad Haddin, quickly rushed to his side and immediately called for help.

"They´ve finished the surgeries but he´s still in a critical condition," said David Faktor, a spokesman for St Vincent´s Hospital, where Hughes was taken. "Now they´ll just monitor him."

Reports said he was in an induced coma in the intensive care unit and being treated to relieve pressure on his brain from bleeding.

Tim Nielsen from South Australia Cricket read out a statement from the Hughes family outside the hospital.

"The outcome of the surgery is unlikely to be known for the next 24-48 hours," he said. "We would appreciate it if you would look after the family and friends and respect their privacy please."

Cricket Australia said in a live match blog on its website that Hughes had "been leaving the short balls, had a go at this one, misjudged it and was hit in the head. He blacked out and fell badly". The match was abandoned.

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 has never secured a regular place in the team, partly due to his perceived weakness against the short ball.

But with doubts over the fitness of captain Michael Clarke for the first Test against India next month in Brisbane, he was seen as a potential replacement.(AFP)