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Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes died in hospital on Thursday, two days after the batsman was struck on the head by a bouncer during a domestic match.

Governing body Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed the 25-year-old had lost his fight for life.

Hughes had spent a second night in a Sydney hospital in an induced coma after having emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.

Family and players had maintained their vigil at Hughes' bedside.

The batsman was struck on the head by a ball at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a devastating blow experts compared to the trauma suffered by victims of a car crash.

News of Hughes death followed calls by former players for the Australian team to abandon the first test match against India next week.

Questions about the response time of ambulances dispatched to the stadium were also raised.