Phil Hughes head injury: Other serious injuries suffered in cricket – including Mark Boucher and Stuart Broad

Hughes is fighting for his life after being hit by a bouncer of bowler Sean Abbott

Mark Boucher receives treatment (GETTY IMAGES)

Despite wearing a helmet Phil Hughes is fighting for his life in intensive care after being struck on the head by a bouncer by Sean Abbott in a Sheffield Shield match.

Thanks to helmets, serious injuries are rare but there have been a few such incidents down the years.

Mike Gatting - West Indies v England 1986: Facing one of the most fearsome and fast bowling attacks in cricketing history, Mike Gatting took to the field in the first one day international in Jamaica in 1986 without a grille. The former England captain was hit by a Malcolm Marshall bouncer, with the impact of the delivery so that when the ball was returned to Marshall he found a piece of Gatting's bone lodged in the leather. Gatting flew home for treatment but returned to the Caribbean a few weeks later before breaking his thumb on the eve of the Third Test.

Alex Tudor - Australia v England 2002: The former England and Surrey all rounder had to be carried off on a stretcher during the third Ashes Test at the WACA after he was hit by a bouncer from Brett Lee. Tudor had to be given six stitches to repair the wound.

Ricky Ponting - England v Australia 2005: One of the finest back foot batsmen of his generation, Ponting was too late onto a Steve Harmison short ball in the First Ashes Test at Lord's, with the delivery landing between the Australian captain's helmet and grille giving the Tasmanian a gash on his cheek.

Mark Boucher - South Africa v Somerset 2012: The wicketkeeper was forced to retire from cricket following an eye injury he picked up playing a warm up game against Somerset in 2012. Boucher, who was wearing a cap rather than a helmet, was struck by a bail while standing up to spinner Imran Tahir and was taken to hospital, where he had surgery to repair a laceration to the white of his eyeball.

Stuart Broad was hit in the face in the match against India

Stuart Broad

- England v India 2014: The England fast bowler had to undergo surgery after a short ball from India quick Varun Aaron managed to smash through his helmet's protective grille and break his nose. Broad was forced to retire hurt from the match and underwent facial surgery to fix the shape of his nose.

Stuart Broad shows his fractured nose

Craig Kieswetter

- Somerset v Northamptonshire 2014: The England wicketkeeper batsman broke his nose and fractured his eye socket after a delivery from David Willey came through his helmet visor and struck him flush in his eye. Thankfully he suffered no lasting damage to his eye.