SYDNEY: Australia batsman Phil Hughes had emergency surgery and was in a critical condition in a Sydney hospital after he was struck on the head by a ball during a domestic first-class match on Tuesday.

Hughes, who was wearing a protective batting helmet, reeled back and then bent forward momentarily after the impact of the short-pitch delivery before falling suddenly to the ground.

He was treated and ventilated on the field by medical experts, including doctors who were flown by helicopter onto the Sydney Cricket Ground, before being taken to nearby St Vincent’s Hospital by ambulance.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner said Hughes sustained a severe head injury. “He subsequently underwent surgery and remains in a critical condition in the hospital’s intensive care unit,” Bruckner said. “Unless there is any significant change there will be no further updates on his condition until tomorrow.”

Phillip is receiving the best possible medical care. The thoughts of his team-mates and the wider cricket community are with Phillip and his family and friends at this difficult time.”

The Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales, where Hughes was born and raised, and South Australia, where he now plays provincial cricket, was cancelled.

South Australia Cricket Association high performance manager Tim Nielsen said the outcome of the surgery was unlikely to be known for one or two days, and he requested privacy for the Hughes family and friends who had gathered at the hospital.

Hughes made his Test debut in South Africa in 2009, where he made 75 in the second innings at Johannesburg. The left-hander followed up in the second Test at Durban with centuries in both innings, amassing some 275 runs at the crease.

The runs dried up and despite playing 26 Tests he has never secured a regular place in the team, partly due to his perceived weakness against the short ball.

However, Hughes was considered a strong contender to force his way back into Australia’s Test team next week if injured skipper Michael Clarke was forced out of the series-opening match against India. He was batting confidently on 63 when he mistimed an attempted pull shot and was hit on the back, left side of the head by a regulation bouncer from New South Wales fast bowler Sean Abbott.

Umpires and players rushed to help, and doctors were quickly on the field.

Published in Dawn, November 26th, 2014