'RIP You Little Champ, We are going to Miss You'

NEW DELHI: Messages expressing condolences for Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died -- aged 25 -- two days after being hit by a ball, have come pouring in. The cricketing world has also, at the same time, expressed vocal support for Sean Abbott -- the fast paced bowler whose delivery led to Hughes injury and subsequent death.

Hughes was batting for South Australia when he was struck on the top of the neck by a short-pitched delivery from Abbott during a Sheffield Shield game against New South Wales on Tuesday.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said, “The word tragedy gets used too often in sport, but this freak accident is now real life tragedy.” The full statement was made in the video below:

Australia cricket team coach Darren Lehmann tweeted:

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott paid tribute to the cricketer, saying, “Phillip Hughes was a young man living out his dreams. For a young life to be cut short playing our national game seems a shocking aberration. He was loved, admired and respected by his team-mates and by legions of cricket fans." The video of the statement is below:

The Indian cricket team, currently touring Australia, released a joint statement that read: “The touring Indian team joins the cricketing fraternity across the world in offering condolences to the family of Phillip Hughes, who has departed from our midst. In this moment of grief, we pray that they are bestowed with divine strength to overcome this unfortunate tragedy… As fellow cricketers we cherish the memories of playing along with him and deeply respect his contribution to the game of cricket.”

Condolences poured in from the cricketing world and beyond.

Indian cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar tweeted: