Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes dead at 25

The death of cricketer Phillip Hughes on Thursday, three days before his 26th birthday, has devastated the Australian cricket community. Hughes died two days after suffering a catastrophic brain injury caused by a blow to the head from a cricket ball during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Medical experts have described the injury as extremely rare.

As we wrap up our live coverage, here is a selection of stories from Fairfax Media's senior writers and columnists.

- The news the country dreaded

- A personality cricketer who had a good life in the game

- The late Peter Roebuck's view: When Phillip Hughes announced himself as a special talent

Michael Clarke has endured a lot in his stellar career, but his bleary eyes suggested nothing has ever rocked him like it did on Thursday afternoon.

The Australian captain arrived to a press conference just over an hour after his Australian, New South Wales and Western Suburbs teammate had passed away in unthinkable circumstances.

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Life and times of Phillip Hughes

- Born: Nov. 30 1988 in Macksville, New South Wales.

- Grew up on a banana farm before moving to Sydney. Made his first-class debut for NSW in 2007 at 18 and became the youngest to score a century in the Sheffield Shield.

- Made his test debut for Australia against South Africa in February 2009, scoring back-to-back centuries in his second match in Durban against the feared fast bowling of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.

- Featured in tests against Pakistan and New Zealand in early 2010 before being recalled for the following Ashes series as an injury replacement for Simon Katich.

- Retained his spot in the Australian touring party for Sri Lanka and South Africa in 2011.

- Went to England in 2012 and played county cricket with Worcestershire, and then had a strong start to the Sheffield Shield season and was rewarded with a spot in the test squad for Sri Lanka's tour of Australia in 2012-13.

- Scored 112 against Sri Lanka to become the first Australian batsman to score a century on his one-day international debut, helping him retain a spot in the team for the tours of India and England later in 2013.

- Made his last Australian test appearance in the 2013 second Ashes Test, in which he made one in both innings.

AAP

Australian Cricket Team doctor Peter Brukner fought back tears earlier on Thursday as he credited captain Michael Clarke for providing strength and loving support desperately required in a time of need and sadness.

"Phillip has always been a little brother to Michael," Dr Brukner said at a press conference at St Vincent's Hospital.

"Michael's efforts over the last 48 hours to support the family; the family was obviously going through a difficult time but I'm not sure they would have coped without Michael's assistance.

"I was just enormously impressed at the work he did and the genuine care and love he gave to the Hughes family."

AAP

Dr Peter Brukner speaks to the media at St Vincent's Hospital. Credit: Getty Images

"Today we also think of Sean Abbott – a young man who did nothing wrong," Opposition leader Bill Shorten said.

Abbott, 22, delivered the ball that struck Hughes. Abbott left St Vincent's Hospital earlier on Thursday.

Australian bowler Sean Abbott leaves St Vincent's Hospital. Credit: AFP

Medical experts say there have only ever been 100 cases of the injury suffered by Phillip Hughes, and only one previously reported case involving a cricket ball.

Christian Knight, the editor of the Guardian News in Nambucca, wrote:

A country boy to a tee, Phillip was uncluttered by the airs and graces of similarly talented sports stars. He would have a beer with the locals as easily as he would put his hand up to teach the game to the district's junior cricketers.

The Nambucca Valley will in time digest the tragic news of Phillip's passing, and ensure his legacy is a lasting one. But not yet - for now the time is for grief.

Vale Phillip Hughes.

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The parents of Australian cricket batsman Phil Hughes, Greg and Virginia, leave St Vincent's Hospital with other family members.

Credit: AFP

In a statement to junior cricketers, Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland wrote:

Dear All,

You will have heard that Southern Redbacks batsman, Phillip Hughes sustained a fatal injury at the Sydney Cricket Ground earlier this week.

It is my sad duty to inform you that a matter of hours ago Phillip Hughes passed away.

The word tragedy gets used far too often in sport but this freak accident is now a real-life tragedy. Just shy of his 26th birthday, Phillip has been taken from us far too young.

As a cricketer, Phillip was an incredibly talented and dearly loved member of the Australian, South Australian and Adelaide Strikers squads and a former NSW representative. He also played county cricket in England and IPL in India. Without doubt he was a rising star whose best cricket was still ahead of him.

As a cricket community we mourn his loss and extend our deepest sympathies to Phillip's family, friends and team mates at this incredibly sad time, and of course to the Australian cricket family and the State Associations. We are thinking of you right now.

I'd like to thank you and our club community around the country for the wonderful show of support given to Phillip and his family. From social media to phone calls to our front desk, the support has been tremendous and I want to thank you on behalf of Australian cricket.

We know that Phillip would encourage you to celebrate the game of cricket with your mates over the weekend. We ask you to do that in tribute to Phillip Hughes. Whether that's getting creative with writing his player number 408 on the outfield, wearing a black arm band or having a moment's silence after the toss. Celebrate his great achievements and the contribution he made to our game.

Phillip Joel Hughes played 26 Test matches for his country. He will be sadly missed and forever remembered.