Ex-Windies batsman Simmons hopes 'critical' Hughes is as lucky as him with recovery

Former West Indies batsman Phil Simmons has said that he hopes Australia's Phil Hughes is as lucky as he had been with his recovery from a serious head injury in 1988.

Hughes is in a critical condition after being struck on the head by a bouncer in a state match in Sydney on Tuesday. Simmons was hit by a David Lawrence ball in 1988 but made a full recovery following life-saving brain surgery.

Simmons said that he was out of hospital in eight days, which none of the doctors expected, adding that he hopes the Australian pulls through, The BBC reported.

Simmons was the same age as Hughes, 25, when he took a blow on the head from a Lawrence short ball in fading light in Bristol during a tour match against Gloucestershire.

The West Indian's heart stopped and he required emergency surgery at Frenchay Hospital. But Simmons, who unlike Hughes was not wearing a helmet, made a full recovery, playing in a charity match in the Caribbean four months later before resuming his international career the following year.

Simmons, who is now coaching Ireland, said that his injury was as serious as one can get, adding that he had to have emergency surgery to have a clot removed from his brain.

Simmons claims that he was written off as never to play again and put in a long-term unit for head injuries, but added that he was out in eight days.

Simmons also said that he felt sympathy for New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott, whose delivery struck Hughes on the back of the head beneath his helmet after the batsman had missed a pull shot.

Lawrence, who played five Tests for England before his career was ended by a horrific knee injury, was deeply affected by the aftermath of his delivery to Simmons.

Simmons said that he had known Lawrence from a long time before, adding that they were friends before that through West Indies paceman Courtney Walsh. He claimed that his wife told him that when he was in the hospital bed Lawrence came to visit, and was holding his hand with tears running down his cheek.

Simmons said that a bowler is never to blame, adding that it's just one of those unfortunate things that happens once in every long while.

Hughes, who received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation at the side of the pitch, is in an induced coma at St Vincent's Hospital after surgery. Doctors will provide an update on his condition on Wednesday, the report added.