Supporters back by Hughes’s side

Update

The cricket community worldwide is in mourning today following the death of Phillip Joel Hughes, aged 25.

Cricket Australia announced the news with a statement from team doctor Peter Brukner. 

Read more here.

Earlier

Australian Test captain Michael Clarke has maintained his vigil at a Sydney hospital for his teammate Phillip Hughes, who is fighting for his life after being hit in the head by a bouncer at the SCG.

Hughes is in an induced coma in intensive care at St Vincent's Hospital after surgery on Tuesday night to relieve pressure on his brain.

“Phillip Hughes remains in a critical condition in St Vincent’s hospital after being struck in the head while batting for South Australia against NSW at the SCG yesterday,” Cricket Australia's Bupa Support Team Doctor, Dr Peter Brukner said Wednesday morning.

“He will have scans this morning and a further update will be provided when the results of those scans are known.”

Clarke was one of the first people to arrive at the hospital on Tuesday and is comforting Hughes's mother and sister, who were watching the game in the stands.

Clarke returned to the hospital about 7am on Wednesday, according to the ABC.

Meanwhile, shaken NSW team members have met today (Wednesday) as they await news on Hughes' condition.

Cricket NSW assembled the Blues players and staff at the club's Moore Park headquarters to ensure they are getting all the counselling and support they need in the wake of Hughes' life-threatening injury.

The South Australian batsman played for NSW for five seasons and has many good mates on the Blues team, including David Warner and Brad Haddin.

"(The NSW players) are doing it tough obviously," Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones told Triple M radio.

"They were pretty shaken up yesterday - it's not what you expect to happen in a game of cricket.

"Phil was in a pretty bad way when it happened and being opponents and former teammates and mates in many cases, they were the first responders ... the first guys on the scene of what was a horrible accident."

Tributes for Hughes have been flowing in from the cricket community around the world.

Quick Single: Best wishes flood in for Hughes

England captain Alastair Cook said he was in shock at the news.

Cook told the BBC the thoughts and prayers of the England team were with Hughes and his family.

Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said he had received numerous messages of support, including from the New Zealand team that is touring the United Arab Emirates.

The 25-year-old batsman was transported to hospital in a critical condition after being struck on the lower back of his neck by a Sean Abbott delivery during the second session of South Australia's Bupa Sheffield Shield match with NSW.

No blame is attached to Abbott who was first on the scene to offer Hughes assistance. Abbott, along with all cricketers from both teams, have been offered counselling and support from Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association. 

Quick Single: Cricket rallies around Sean Abbott

Hughes was 63 not out when the incident occurred, as the left-hander swung at a bouncer and misjudged his shot, taking the brunt of the delivery on the lower left side of the back of his head. 

The momentum of his follow through took Hughes to the side of the pitch where he rested momentarily looking at his feet, with one hand on his knee and propped up by his bat in his right hand. He then collapsed, falling face-first to the ground as the NSW players, fellow batsman Tom Cooper and umpires rushed to his aid. 

Medical assistance was quickly on the scene, with NSW Blues team doctor and Cricket Australia's chief medical officer Dr John Orchard attending. Play was abandoned with the score at 2-136 midway through the second session. 

Hughes's mother and sister were in the stands at the SCG. They and SACA General Manager High Performance, Tim Nielsen, were with Hughes at St Vincent's, along with Dr Orchard.

"Phillip is in the best possible medical hands. The Cricket Australia community and his teammates ... are thinking of his family and friends at this point," Brukner told media on Tuesday night outside the hospital.

Hughes made his Test debut in 2009 and has played 26 Tests for Australia, compiling 1535 runs at an average of 32.66.

With Australian selector Mark Waugh looking on in the SCG stands, Hughes had put together a composed 63 off 161 as he attempted to earn a Test recall for next week's series opener against India.

Before the match he was considered a leading contender to replace Clarke in the Australian batting line-up for next week's first Test against India with the Test captain struggling to recover from a hamstring injury.

Cricket commentator Jim Maxwell said Hughes' injury is the worst he's seen.

"It was just one of those horribly flukey things that can happen in the game," he told ABC radio on Wednesday.

"Phil Hughes has ducked and weaved and hooked many short balls in his illustrious career."

South Africa's AB de Villiers said his thoughts and prayers went out to Hughes, while India's VVS Laxman wished the Australian batsman a speedy recovery.

Bowler Nathan Bracken, a former teammate of Hughes, said Abbott wouldn't have set out to harm the batsman.

"It is a freak accident and it is something that I don't think anything would have really prevented it happening," Bracken told ABC radio on Wednesday.

"With a small, round, hard object being hurled at a batsman at that pace - you're always going to have things are going to happen."

Cricket Australia announced Wednesday morning that the current round of Sheffield Shield has been abandoned.