Sean Abbott is “holding up well” as he comes to terms with batsman Phillip Hughes’s death, says Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland.
Abbott’s ball struck Hughes in the neck during a domestic match in Australia and the 25-year-old died on Thursday.
“I chatted to him on Thursday night and I was incredibly impressed by the way he was holding himself, and his maturity,” said Sutherland.
Some ex-cricketers fear Abbott, 22, may never play again following the tragedy.
“This isn’t a moment in time thing, it’s a grieving process that affects people in different ways,” added Sutherland in a news conference on Friday morning in Sydney.
“We, and the relevant experts, will provide Sean with all of the support that he needs.”
Australia captain Michael Clarke and Hughes’s sister Megan spent time comforting a tearful Abbott at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney.
The New South Wales bowler is receiving counselling from Cricket Australia.
Former England bowler David Lawrence, who hit West Indies batsman Phil Simmons on the temple with a delivery in 1988, thinks Abbott’s career could be over.
“I know what Sean is going through,” Lawrence told BBC Radio 5 live.
“My thoughts go out to him. I don’t think he’ll play cricket again.”
The “devastated” family of Phillip Hughes at St Vincent’s Hospital in Australia
Hughes, who played 26 Tests for his country, collapsed face first on the ground after being struck by a bouncer from Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game between South Australia and New South Wales on Tuesday.
Hughes had been wearing a helmet but the ball missed it, striking him at the top of the neck and causing a vertebral artery dissection, which resulted in a “massive bleed” on the brain.
- Phillip Hughes, batting for South Australia, was hit in the neck by a short-pitched ball on Tuesday. He never regained consciousness.
- Australian team doctor Peter Brukner explained Hughes died as a result of “vertebral artery dissection”.
- His family paid tribute to a “much-loved son and brother”.
- Cricket Australia is “completely devastated” at the “freak accident”.
- Emotional Australia captain Michael Clarke stayed with Hughes’s family at his bedside for two days.
- Flags flown at half-mast at Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney Cricket Ground.
- No decision yet whether to play next week’s Test match against India, but warm-up match cancelled.
- Australia rugby union team set to wear black armbands against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
- Golfer Adam Scott, an Aussie, wears a black ribbon during Australian Open.
- Prime Minister Tony Abbott described Hughes’ death as a “shocking aberration”.
- Recap how the world reacted to Hughes’s death here.
Abbott was pictured in the aftermath of the incident cradling the batsman’s head while other players waved medical staff on to the pitch.
Retired fast bowler Lawrence is concerned that Abbott’s career could be ended by the tragic events.
“When you turn and run in to bowl again, you are just going to have those images in your head,” Lawrence told BBC Radio 5 live. “Will he ever be the same bowler again? I don’t know.”
Lawrence was just 24 when he bowled to Simmons – who was not wearing a helmet – and struck him on the temple in a tour match in Bristol 26 years ago.
Simmons’ heart stopped and he required emergency brain surgery but went on to make a full recovery.
“What gave me comfort was I was able to see Phil Simmons 48 hours after, and he was able to tell me it wasn’t my fault,” Lawrence added.
“The bowler in this instance wouldn’t have been able to do that. Hughes didn’t make a recovery, wasn’t able to talk to him.”
