Cricketer Phillip Hughes has died in hospital after he was struck on the head by a short delivery during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old from Macksville, on the north coast of New South Wales, was playing for South Australia against NSW when he collapsed after he was hit on the lower back of the neck by a bouncer. He was taken to hospital in a critical condition and died on Thursday.
Hughes had remained in an induced coma at St Vincent’s hospital after having emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
But he never regained consciousness, according to a statement from the Australian team doctor, Peter Brukner on Thursday afternoon.
All Sheffield Shield matches were cancelled after Hughes suffered the injury.
Hughes, who was days away from his 26th birthday, played Test and one-day cricket for Australia, Sheffield Shield cricket for South Australia and county cricket for Worcestershire.
He made his Test debut against South Africa in 2009, making centuries in both innings of his second Test.
Hughes originally played for his home state before moving to South Australia.
Tributes began pouring in soon after the news, and flags flew at half mast at the SCG, New South Wales’s home ground.