SYDNEY: Australia cricketer Phil Hughes was still fighting for his life on Wednesday as family and friends kept vigil at his hospital bedside.

Hughes remains in an induced coma after undergoing emergency surgery on Tuesday when he was struck in the head by a bouncer, a devastating blow that experts likened to the trauma experienced by car crash victims.

The 25-year-old underwent further scans on Wednesday morning but medical staff at Sydney’s St Vincent’s hospital did not disclose the results.

“Phillip’s condition is unchanged and he remains critical,” the Australian cricket team doctor Peter Brukner told reporters. “If there are any further developments we will let you know immediately.”

Hughes needed CPR and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after he collapsed at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he was struck in the back of the head by a short-pitched delivery.

He was rushed by ambulance to the nearby hospital and immediately underwent an operation to relieve the pressure on his brain.

Peter Larkins, one of Australia’s leading sports physicians, said people who suffer serious injuries can remain comatose for days but can still make full recoveries.

“While it’s an extraordinary injury in cricket, such head trauma injuries are seen in high speed car crashes all the time and there are some miracle stories of full recoveries,” Larkins said.

The cricketing community remains in a state of shock with players from around the world sending their well wishes to Hughes.

Members of the Australian national team, including the captain Michael Clarke, spent hours at his hospital bed, comforting the stricken player’s mother and sister.

As a sign of respect, Cricket Australia (CA) called off the entire round of matches in the country’s domestic first-class competition.

“Given how players across the country are feeling right now, it’s just not the day to be playing cricket,” CA’s Pat Howard said in a statement.

CA has offered counselling to players who witnessed the incident, including paceman Sean Abbott, who bowled the ball that reared up and struck Hughes.

Abbott was one of the first players to aid Hughes when he crumbled on to the pitch, cradling him until medical staff arrived on the field.

Published in Dawn, November 27th , 2014