As tributes continue to flow for Phillip Hughes, a “shaken and broken” Sean Abbott is being surrounded by supporters.

Hughes died on Thursday afternoon, two days after he was hit on the side of his neck by a bouncer bowled by Abbott in what’s been called a freak accident.

Former Test fast bowler player Stuart Clark said he’d spent time with Abbott on Thursday night.

The 22-year-old had a naturally quiet temperament but appeared okay, with at least three supporters always around him, Clark said.

“(But) I think it will be the hardest for him when it’s quiet and there’s nothing happening,” he told Sky Sports Radio.

“When he’s sitting at home at night before he goes to bed – that’s, I think, when the thoughts will start recurring in his mind.”

Fellow Test veteran Jason Gillespie said Abbott’s personal and professional life had been rocked by an unprecedented tragedy.

“That lad is absolutely shaken and broken at the moment,” he told Fox Sports.

While the cricket fraternity had rallied around the young bowler, former Australian captain Mark Taylor said Abbott would be haunted by the tragic accident.

“He’s got no questions to answer but I’m sure he’ll be feeling some guilt today and probably will be for a long time,” he said.

“I really hope Sean can get over it and we one day see Sean back playing for NSW and maybe Australia.”

A bereaved silence has descended over Hughes’ home town of Macksville on the NSW mid north coast.

“Everyone is beside themselves. The streets are empty,” Nambucca Hotel bar manager Karl Spear said.

Hughes would have celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Pakistan great Waqar Younis has questioned where the tragedy leaves Abbott as a player.

“How will he continue?,” Waqar – one of the all-time great fast bowlers and now Pakistan’s coach – told AFP.

“He needs counselling, which I am sure must have started, and needs to stay calm.”

But former England fast bowler David Lawrence fears Abbott might never play again.

Lawrence, now 50, is well placed to understand Abbott’s situation. He bowled the ball that hit West Indies’ batsman Phil Simmons – who wasn’t wearing a helmet – on the head in a tour match.

Simmons made a full recovery but only after his heart stopped and he underwent emergency brain surgery.

“He collapsed. They rushed him to hospital, and were able to save his life and take a blood clot off his brain – and he subsequently went on to play again,” Lawrence told BBC World News.

“What gave me comfort was I was able to see Phil Simmons 48 hours after, and he was able to tell me it wasn’t my fault.”