Hughes returns to pavilion beyond

Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, injured by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match in Sydney on Tuesday, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning. He was 25. Australian cricket team doctor Peter Brukner said Hughes remained critical after being felled by a Sean Abbott bouncer during a Sheffield Shield game between South Australia and 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,’ Brukner said in a statement. Hughes, who was due to celebrate his 26th birthday on Friday, was in his 4th day of intensive care in an induced coma after surgery at a Sydney hospital. He passed away in the morning. His skull was fractured and suffered catastrophic bleeding in his brain after he was hit by the bouncer. Hughes received the life-threatening injuries despite wearing a helmet during the game. His demise has sent shockwaves through the cricketing world. Test stars Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, David Warner, Mitchell Starc and Steve Smith are among a stream of personalities from the sport who have visited Hughes’ bedside. Emotions were running high with supporters shedding tears and sharing hugs. Australia captain Michael Clarke has been an almost constant presence at his close friend’s side at St Vincent’s Hospital since the freak incident, arriving again early Thursday a few hours before Hughes breathed his last. The who’s who of the cricketing world have sent condolence messages, including Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and the captains of England, South Africa and India. The vigil by family and friends and Australian national team players stayed in the hospital till his demise, according to a news agency.