More scans for Phil Hughes as he fights for life

Sydney Australian batsman Phillip Hughes was to have more scans Wednesday after surgery to relieve pressure on his brain as players rallied around the bowler who inflicted the damageThe 25yearold who was pressing for a Test recall was knocked out by a Sean Abbott bouncer in a freak incident at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday crumbling to the ground unconscious after the heavy blow to the lower headAustralian batsman Phillip HughesHe underwent surgery and was in an induced coma in intensive care at St Vincents Hospital Phillip Hughes remains in a critical condition in St Vincents Hospital after being struck in the head while batting for South Australia against NSW at the SCG yesterday Cricket Australia said in a statementAlso readPhil Hughes battles for life after being struck on the head by a bouncerHe will have scans this morning and a further update will be provided when the results of those scans are known Test captain Michael Clarke was one of the first to arrive at the hospital on Wednesday resuming a vigil at his close friends bedside and comforting Hughess mother and sister Hughes made his Test debut in South Africa in 2009 where he made 75 in the second innings at JohannesburgThe lefthander 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 But with doubts over the fitness of Clarke for the first Test against India next month in Brisbane he was seen as a potential replacementShaun Marsh is now the frontrunner The popular Hughes was wearing a helmet when he was struck but manufacturer Masuri said he was not wearing their most uptodate model From the footage and pictures currently available to Masuri it appears that Phil Hughes was struck by the ball to the rear of the grille and below the back of the shell missing his Masuri Original Test model helmet the company saidThis is a vulnerable area of the head and neck that helmets cannot fully protect while enabling batsmen to have full and proper movement All the support he needs Hughes was attempting a pull shot when he was hit and fell badly Medical staff worked on him including mouthtomouth resuscitation and oxygen for more than 30 minutes before he was taken from the field and rushed to hospital on lifesupportWhile it remains unclear how badly he may be hurt advocacy group Brain Injury Australia said generally that recovery was a long process although no two injuries were the same Recovery from brain injury is a marathon not a sprint said spokesman Nick Rushworth who had his own brush with death in 1996 in a cycling accident Upandcoming bowler Abbott who made his oneday and Twenty20 debut for Australia in October and is just 22 was seen cradling the injured player immediately after the incidentIt says a lot about Sean doesnt it Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said calling it a freak freak accident Sean will have all the support he needs around him Cricketers from around the world have rallied behind not just Hughes but also Abbott Stay strong seanabbott77Not your fault young man tweeted former Australian great Dean Jones while Damien Fleming said Feeling for Sean Abbott who was just bowling a cricket ball Cricket Australia said all current domestic Sheffield Shield matches had been abandoned in the wake of Hughess injury with official Pat Howard saying its just not the day to be playing cricket