by Our Sports Desk

AUSTRALIA batsman Phil Hughes was fighting for his life in intensive care last night after being struck on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match.

Hughes is in Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital on life support, with Australia team doctor Peter Brukner saying that medics may have an update on his condition today.

Despite wearing a helmet, Hughes — batting for South Australia — collapsed face-first onto the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch, having been hit on the head after missing a pull shot off New South Wales pace bowler Sean Abbott.

Cricket Australia said that Hughes, who has played for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire, had been “struck on the back, lower left side of the head.”

It said no blame could be attached to Abbott, a 22-year-old who made his Australia debut last month.

Brukner said that Hughes was treated at the ground and “subsequently underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit.

“Phillip is receiving the best possible medical care. The thoughts of his team-mates and the wider cricket community are with Phillip and his family and friends at this difficult time.”

The left-hander, on 63 at the time, put a hand on his knee after being struck before falling face first to the ground. Play in the game was immediately suspended and the match later abandoned entirely.

He was then given mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and oxygen on the boundary line after being carried off the pitch on a stretcher.

An injury to Australia captain Michael Clarke, who went to the hospital yesterday, had led to talk of Hughes getting a recall for the forthcoming Test series against India.

A 26-Test international, his last appearance for Australia came in a one-day match against Pakistan in October.

Hughes memorably scored two centuries in just his second Test match against South Africa, with his last five-day appearance coming against England at Lord’s last summer.

In the Test prior to that he scored 81 at Trent Bridge alongside Ashton Agar in a last-wicket stand that nearly produced a memorable win.

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association are set to arrange counselling for players who saw Hughes fall, with the former pledging the “utmost support.”