Hughes stops

Phillip Hughes died yesterday as a result of the injuries he sustained when struck by a bouncer two days ago, Cricket Australia has confirmed. He was 25 and would turn 26 the day after tomorrow.

Team doctor Peter Brukner confirmed the news in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.

"It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away," Brukner said. "He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday. He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends.

"As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip's family and friends at this incredibly sad time. Cricket Australia kindly asks that the privacy of the Hughes family, players and staff be respected."

The news of Hughes's demise was the talking point in Bangladesh's cricketing circle yesterday. The players of both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, who were practising for today's fourth ODI, were more focused on the Australian opener rather than their game. To pay respect to the batsman, they will sport black armbands and will observe a minute's silence during the match today.

Play on the second day of the third Test between Pakistan and New Zealand in the United Arab Emirates was suspended on Thursday, with the match extended by an extra day. The tour match between the Cricket Australia XI and India team was also cancelled in light of Hughes's death.

Players, coaches and other friends had been in and out of St. Vincent's Hospital in Sydney throughout Wednesday and Thursday, visiting Hughes and supporting his family, and each other. Australia's captain Michael Clarke, a close friend of Hughes's, had been at the hospital until after midnight on Wednesday night and returned at about 6am on Thursday.

Brad Haddin, Steven Smith, Shane Watson, David Warner, Nathan Lyon, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Starc and Daniel Smith all spent time at the hospital, as did Ricky Ponting, Simon Katich, Phil Jaques and Brett Lee. Some flew in from interstate, including Aaron Finch, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Peter Forrest, George Bailey, Ed Cowan, Justin Langer, and Cricket Australia's CEO James Sutherland and high performance manager Pat Howard. The national coach Darren Lehmann was there as well.

Also keeping vigil at the hospital were the Hughes family, including his mother and sister, who had been at the Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales on Tuesday when Hughes was struck by the bouncer while batting on 63. At a press conference at the hospital on Thursday afternoon, Clarke read a statement on behalf of Hughes's parents Greg and Virginia, and brother and sister Jason and Megan.

"We are devastated by the loss of our much-loved son and brother Phillip," Clarke read. "It has been a very difficult few days. We appreciated all the support we have received from family, friends, players, Cricket Australia and the general public.

"Cricket was Phillip's life, and we as a family shared that love of the game with him. We would like to thank all the medical and nursing staff at St Vincent's Hospital and Cricket NSW medical staff for their great efforts with Phillip. We love you."

On Tuesday, Hughes was playing for South Australia against his former state New South Wales when he missed his attempted hook and the ball struck him on the neck below the helmet. He underwent surgery after being rushed to hospital from the Sydney Cricket Ground, and was then in an induced coma.

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO, said that Hughes was an incredibly talented and dearly loved member of the Australia, South Australia, Adelaide Strikers and formerly New South Wales sides. He described Hughes as "a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him".