Cricketer Phillip Hughes has died in a Sydney hospital two days after being hit by a bouncer at the SCG.

Cricket Australia confirmed the former Test batsman, 25, passed away in St Vincents Hospital after being placed in an induced coma.

“It is my sad duty to inform you that a short time ago Phillip Hughes passed away,” said Australian cricket team doctor Peter Brukner in a statement.

“He never regained consciousness following his injury on Tuesday.

“He was not in pain before he passed and was surrounded by his family and close friends.”

Hughes was in fine form for South Australia, and in line to regain a place in the Test team, when felled by a bouncer from NSW paceman Sean Abbott in Sheffield Shield action at the SCG.

The 26-Test left-hander underwent emergency surgery to reduce pressure on his brain later that day and remained in the induced coma in intensive care.

News of his death broke just before long-time teammates David Warner and his wife Candice Falzon left the hospital in tears.

Dozens more players were hugging and crying into each other’s shoulders as they left the hospital minutes later.

Among them were Test stars Steve Smith, Ryan Harris, and Mitchell Starc, as well as former captain Ricky Ponting and an inconsolable Moises Henriques.

The players had been among a large group paying their respects in a bedside vigil.

Test captain and close friend Michael Clarke was a near constant visitor to St Vincent’s since the incident, arriving back at the hospital just after 6am on Thursday, barely hours after he left the Darlinghurst facility on Wednesday night.

A steady stream of sombre-looking current and former players followed him throughout Thursday including Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Matthew Wade and Aaron Finch, who embraced Brad Haddin as he walked through the hospital doors.

After visiting the SCG, ashen-faced Australian coach Darren Lehmann arrived in the morning and also return again in the afternoon.

Even former Test captains Rick Ponting and Steve Waugh were on hand as Hughes slipped away.

“Such terrible news with the passing of Phil Hughes,” tweeted cricket great Glenn McGrath. “Our deepest sympathies to his family.”

Lehhman tweeted: “RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you ! Love, prayers to all the Hughes family xxxx”.