The cricket world has rallied round Phil Hughes after the Australia batsman was taken to hospital after being struck on the head by a bouncer during a Sheffield Shield game.

“Our thoughts are with Phillip Hughes & his family. Wishing him a quick & full recovery,” the former Australia fast bowler Glenn McGrath said on Twitter.

The former spinner Shane Warne said: “Just heard the news about Phil Hughes, thoughts & prayers are with you & your family. Hang in there buddy, we are all fighting with u!!!” while the fast bowler Mitchell Johnson added: “Thinking of you mate! Hope everything is ok with u Hughesy.”

The Australia coach Darren Lehmann responded by saying: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Phil and his family! He is a great fighter and a great young man!”.

There were messages of support from Ashes opponents. The former England captain Michael Vaughan said: “Just woke to the devastating news about Phil Hughes … Thoughts are with his family.”

The England paceman Stuart Broad said: “Awful news about Phil Hughes. Fight hard, everyone’s thoughts are with you and your family,” and his strike partner Jimmy Anderson tweeted: “Awful news about Phil Hughes. Sickening to hear. Praying for him and his family.”

India, who are in Australia preparing for a four-Test series, issued a statement saying: “The touring Indian cricket team extends its best wishes to Phil Hughes and his family at this time. We join with the rest of the cricket community around the world to offer our support and prayers to Phil and his family as well as our friends within Australian Cricket.”

The England and Wales Cricket Board also sent a message of support, tweeting: “Thoughts with Phil Hughes and his family from all at ECB. Get well soon.”

Hughes, who was wearing a helmet, was playing for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales. He had scored 63 when he was hit on the side of the head by the all-rounder Sean Abbott. He momentarily stood at the crease after the blow before falling face-first on to the pitch. The match was abandoned shortly afterwards.

Hughes’s mother and sister were in the stands and accompanied him to hospital and the Australia Test captain, Michael Clarke, went to the hospital soon after he was admitted.

Paramedics performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on Hughes and treated him on the boundary for about 40 minutes. A helicopter landed on the field of play but Hughes was taken to St Vincent’s hospital by ambulance.

His fellow Australia international David Warner was in the field when the incident occurred and he rode alongside Hughes when he was wheeled off the field.

He wrote on Twitter: “Thoughts are with my little mate Hughsy and his family. He is a fighter and a champion and he will get through this. Praying for you buddy.”

Cricket Australia said Hughes was in an induced coma and the outcome of the surgery was unlikely to be known for 24-48 hours. The hospital said the batsman, who has played 26 Test matches for Australia, remained in a critical condition and was in intensive care.

St Vincent’s Hospital spokesman David Faktor told AAP: “They’ve finished the surgery’s but he’s still in a critical condition. Now they’ll just monitor him.”

A statement from Australian Cricket said: “Unless there is any significant change there will be no further updates on his condition until tomorrow.”

Hughes has been in and out of Australia’s Test side since making his debut in 2009 and has not featured in over a year but he was in line for a recall for the first Test against India next month, with Clarke a serious doubt with a hamstring injury.

His last appearance for his national side came last month in a one-day international against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.