--- description: Australian international batsman Phillip Hughes is in hospital after being struck on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield match title: Australian International Cricketer In Critical Condition image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt594efb8bceeeefc7/69876acaa988caa49e6aaf66/rtr2v40q.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Sports](/section/sports/) ## Sports Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Cricket](/tag/cricket/) ## Cricket Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Australian International Cricketer in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Ball by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 25, 2014 8:18 AM CUT  Australia's Phil Hughes avoids a high ball during the second cricket test match against New Zealand in Hobart, Australia, on Dec. 11, 2011 Australia's Phil Hughes avoids a high ball during the second cricket test match against New Zealand in Hobart, Australia, on Dec. 11, 2011Daniel Munoz—Reuters by [Rishi Iyengar](/author/rishi-iyengar/) ## Rishi Iyengar Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Nov 25, 2014 8:18 AM CUT Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes has been [rushed to hospital](http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/phil-hughes-in-critical-condition-after-being-knocked-out-by-bouncer-at-scg-20141125-11titq.html "undefined") in a critical condition after being struck on his head by a ball during a regional match in Sydney. The incident has quickly rippled through the cricket world as a salutary reminder that the sport, despite its sedate reputation, can be explosive and dangerous. The _Age_ reports that the injury occurred Tuesday during a Sheffield Shield encounter between Hughes’ team South Australia and opponents New South Wales. The Sheffield Shield is Australia’s main domestic cricket competition. The 25-year-old batsman reportedly looked at his feet for a few seconds before staggering and collapsing face-first onto the ground, after a quick, rising ball from bowler Sean Abbott. The aggressive pitch, known in cricketing parlance as a “bouncer,” struck him just below his left ear. Hughes was seen breathing through an oxygen mask soon after the arrival of three ambulances and a helicopter bearing additional doctors and medical staff. He was then taken by road to a nearby hospital, whose spokesperson [told reporters](http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/news/phil-hughes-hospitalised-after-being-knocked-unconscious-during-sheffield-shield-match-at-scg/story-fnjbnts5-1227134415326 "undefined") that the athlete was undergoing surgery. Cricket balls, made out of cork wrapped in leather, are capable of traveling at up to 100 m.p.h., making them potentially lethal projectiles. They are harder and heavier than baseballs, and cricketers have [been killed](http://www.espncricinfo.com/southafrica/content/story/683131.html "undefined") by them in the past. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil Hughes and his family at this time,” the South Australia Cricket Association said in a [statement](http://www.saca.com.au/Article/NewsDetail.aspx?p=338&id=2282 "undefined"). Hughes has represented Australia in both One Day Internationals and at Test level — the highest form of the game. He was attempting to get picked for the Australian squad due to face India later this month after chalking up an impressive 170 runs in three Sheffield Shield matches this season. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/"},"headline":"Australian International Cricketer in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Ball","datePublished":"2014-11-25T08:18:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-22T02:21:15.142Z","description":"Protective gear appeared to offer little defense, highlighting dangers of the sport","url":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/","keywords":["Cricket","Australia","India","Injury","Surgery","hospital"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt594efb8bceeeefc7/69876acaa988caa49e6aaf66/rtr2v40q.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rishi Iyengar","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/rishi-iyengar/"}],"articleSection":"Sports","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt594efb8bceeeefc7/69876acaa988caa49e6aaf66/rtr2v40q.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Australia's Hughes avoids a high ball during the second cricket test match against New Zealand in Hobart","caption":"Australia's Hughes avoids a high ball during the second cricket test match against New Zealand in Hobart","creditText":"Daniel Munoz—Reuters","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/sports/","name":"Sports"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/cricket/","name":"Cricket"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/","name":"Australian International Cricketer in Critical Condition After Being Struck by Ball"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Australian Cricketer in Critical Condition","description":"Australia's Phil Hughes 'critical' after being hit by cricket ball.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/Vb7eDUfc/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2014-11-26T07:55:29.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Vb7eDUfc.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/","duration":"PT41S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3604309/cricket-australian-cricketer-phillip-hughes/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```