Australian batsman Phil Hughes is in a critical condition after being hit on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The South Australia left-hander, 25, was in bat against New South Wales when a bouncer by bowler Sean Abbott missed his helmet and struck him on the side of the head. and collapsed to the ground.

Hughes, 25, collapsed to the ground and was stretchered off the field to be examined on the boundary before being evacuated to St Vincent’s Hospital. He has since undergone surgery and has been placed into an induced coma.

He remains in intensive care in a critical condition.

The batsman has played 26 tests for Australia since his debut against South Africa in 2009, and has played domestic cricket in the UK for Hampshire, Middlesex and Worcestershire.