Sussex bowler Steve Magoffin has expressed his shock at the injury which has left Australia batsman Phil Hughes fighting for his life.

Hughes is in a critical condition after collapsing at the Sydney Cricket Ground when he was struck on the head below his helmet by a bouncer from Sean Abbott.

The 25-year-old was flown to hospital in an air ambulance where he was placed in an induced coma following surgery.

Magoffin knows Hughes well having played against him many times in both Australian and English domestic cricket while they were also part of the Australia squad together for a tour of South Africa in 2009.

The Sussex bowler said: “It’s terrible news. It looks a very, very serious injury but Phil is a fighter on the cricket field and hopefully those fighting qualities will get him through the battle ahead of him now.

“It’s just awful luck that the ball missed his helmet the way it did. It’s one of those freak accidents and everyone is rooting for Phil to pull through.

“I got to know him fairly well and he’s a really good guy. He’s a funny bloke who it is great to be around but he’s very determined when he’s out in the middle.

“I was on the tour when he scored two hundreds in only his second game for Australia against a South Africa attack featuring (Dale) Steyn and (Morne) Morkel and the way he played in that match summed up his character.

“He’s also been in and out of the Australia side over the last five years so to keep churning out the runs the way he has shows how tough he is mentally.

“My thoughts are with his friends and family but I also feel for Sean Abbott. He and Phil are great friends so I can’t imagine what he is going through at the moment.”