Phillip Hughes’ injury is so rare it’s the sporting equivalent of being hit by a bus, Cricket NSW chief executive Andrew Jones says.

Jones says the cricket community is in shock after Hughes was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital for emergency surgery after being struck in the head by a bouncer at the SCG.

The Redbacks batsman remains in a critical condition.

“It’s the cricketing equivalent of getting hit by a bus,” Jones told Sky Sports Radio.

“It’s a freak accident.”

He said other players had suffered concussions from hits to the head already this season, but nothing as serious as the 25-year-old’s critical injury.

“There have been a million bouncers bowled before and there will be a million bouncers bowled after,” he said.

Jones said the players who were at the NSW-South Australia Sheffield Shield match when Hughes was struck would gather on Wednesday to offer each other support.

Meanwhile, Australia skipper Michael Clarke has rushed back to the hospital to be back at Hughes’ bedside.