Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Hughes as a "young man living out his dream," adding "it's a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family."

Messages of support poured in from all around the world after Hughes stumbled, leaned over and then collapsed after being hit behind the left ear when he mis-timed a short-pitch delivery while batting for South Australia against New South Wales in a Sheffield Shield match.

Deaths are rare in cricket, although Hughes is the second player in two years to sustain a fatal blow.

Darryn Randall, who was 32 and a former first-class player in South Africa, was killed after being struck on the side of the head during a Border Cricket Board Premier League match in the Eastern Cape last year.

At the Australian Open golf tournament not far from St. Vincent's, a large gallery following Adam Scott heard of Hughes' death and some wiped tears from their eyes.

Hughes played 26 test matches for Australia after making his debut in 2009, but despite a sparkling start to his international career at 19, he was not able to earn a regular spot in the starting lineup.

After making 75 in his first test innings against South Africa in Johannesburg, he posted centuries in each innings of his second test, becoming the youngest player ever to do that in test cricket. But he struggled on the subsequent tour of England and was in and out of the Australian team four more times. He was on the verge of another test recall when he was fatally struck.

The injury sparked debate about short-pitch bowling in the game.

Bouncers, where a fast bowler aims to push the batsman back toward the stumps with a ball that lands halfway down the pitch and rears up above chest or head height, are still a regular and acceptable part of the game.

The International Cricket Council revised its laws on short-pitch bowling in the early 1990s, putting restrictions on the number of short-pitch balls allowed per over to stamp out bowlers merely using the delivery to intimidate batsmen.

Sutherland said Sean Abbott was being counseled, had visited Hughes in the hospital and had been consoled by Clarke and members of Hughes' family.