Abbott details Hughes incident

Sean Abbott has described in harrowing detail the moment a ball he bowled struck Phillip Hughes, leading to the batsman's tragic death at the SCG in November 2014.

Abbott's witness statement into the death of Hughes was released by the NSW Coroner's Court today, the third of a week-long public inquest.

"After Phillip was struck, I saw him start to sway and I ran to the other end of the pitch and I held the right side of his head with my left hand," Abbott's statement read.

"I remained on the field until Phillip was placed on the medicab and then returned to the change room.

"Once in the change room I felt confused and upset. I had a headache, people kept coming up to me but I cannot remember what they said. It was all a bit of a blur and I felt like I was in a bit of a daze.

"I felt super tired. These feelings stayed with me for the next few days. "

Hughes was struck at 2.23pm on the first day of the Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia. The 25-year-old died in hospital two days later as a result of a traumatic basal subarachnoid haemorrhage caused by the blow.

"I think Phillip was a bit early through the shot," Abbott's statement read of the fateful delivery.

"If a batsman is early through the shot it makes me think that the ball is slower than they had anticipated.

"I don't remember the ball being fast or slow. Maybe the wicket was a little bit slower that day. That's the type of wicket at the SCG."

Abbott and Hughes made their T20 international debuts together against Pakistan in Dubai in October 2014. Abbott wrote that he "always looked up to Phillip".

"He was a tough competitor," the statement reads.

"I always knew that I would have to work hard to get him out. I don't think I had ever got him out.

"From my experience of Phillip as a Test cricketer, he had a very strong cut shot."

Abbott will not be called to testify in person at the inquest into Hughes's death, but NSW teammates Doug Bollinger, Brad Haddin and David Warner as well as South Australia batsman Tom Cooper – the non-striker at the time of the incident – have all given evidence.

Each player denied the concerns put by the Hughes family counsel, Greg Melick SC that there was a deliberate and "ungentlemanly" targeting of Hughes in the match.

"I do not recall any particular instructions being given to the NSW team at lunchtime on that day or any discussion about a specific plan for the period after lunch, although there would have been a team chat," Abbott's statement said.

"I don't recall the details of any team chat on that day. I really don't remember the lunch period at all."

The coroner's court also released the written statement of Warner, who was fielding at gully at the time Hughes was hit.

Warner's statement describes the ongoing impact of the incident on him, calling Hughes "one of my closest mates".

"I miss him every day and think about him often, especially when I play cricket and train," Warner's statement said.

"Phil's death has had a large impact on me. It has taken me a long time to process the loss of Phil.

"I have tried not to think about the accident too much but attempted to remain positive and think about the good times Phil and I shared."

Warner's statement describes in detail the moment Hughes was hit.

"I saw the ball hit Phil. When Phil was hit it looked to me like he was already through the shot a fraction early," the statement reads.

"Once he got hit, Phil tried to stand up and then he fell to the ground. He fell about one metre away.

"I tried to catch him but couldn't.

"He took three deep breaths. His eyes were dilated. The players (including me) were very concerned. However, when I saw Phil's eyes I knew that the situation was not good.

"I recall that I ran off the field to get a stretcher and a medicab came out."

Warner said he ran back onto the pitch because "I wanted to be there for my mate" before describing how he watched CPR being performed.

The inquest continues in Sydney, with events and operations staff taking the witnesses stand as attention focusses on policies and procedures in place and changes already implemented following the incident.