Phil Simmons hopes Phil Hughes makes full recovery

Phil Simmons

London, Nov 26 (IANS/CMC) Former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons said he hopes Australia's Phil Hughes makes a full recovery from the head injury sustained on Tuesday during a domestic first-class fixture.

Hughes is in a critical condition after being struck on the head by a bouncer from Sean Abbott in Sydney. Abbott's delivery struck Hughes on the back of the head beneath his helmet after the batsman missed a pull shot, following which he immediately collapsed on the pitch, reports CMC.

"I was out of hospital in eight days which none of the doctors expected," said Simmons, who was hit by a David Lawrence ball in 1988 but made a full recovery following a life-saving brain surgery.

"I hope he pulls through," Simmons said.

Simmons was the same age as Hughes, 25, when he took the blow on the head and required emergency surgery. Simmons, who was not wearing a helmet, recovered four months later and resumed his international career the following year.

"My injury was as serious as it could get. I had to have emergency surgery to have a clot removed from my brain," Simmons, now Ireland coach, said.