SYDNEY: Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match.

Australian Primer Minister Tony Abbott led a flood of tributes for the 25-year-old.

“His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family. What happened has touched millions of Australians. For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. He was loved, admired and respected by his team mates and by legions of cricket fans,” Abbott said in a statement.

“The passing of Phillip Hughes is an incredibly sad day for Australian sport and on behalf of everyone in Australian football I would like to pass on our condolences to Phillip's family, friends and the cricket community," Football Federation of Australia CEO David Gallop said in a statement.

“For an athlete to lose his life while playing professional sport as a result of an unfortunate accident is very difficult to comprehend and we are all feeling a little numb today.”

Name: Phillip Joel Hughes

Birthdate: November 30, 1988 (age 25)

Birthplace: Macksville, New South Wales

Style: Left-handed opening batsman

Test debut: South Africa v Australia at Johannesburg, February 2009

Last Test: England v Australia at Lord's, July 2013

ODI debut: Australia v Sri Lanka at Melbourne, January 2013

Last ODI: Australia v Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, October 2014