David Lawrence fears a distraught Sean Abbott might quit cricket

Former England fast bowler David Lawrence fears Sean Abbott will never play cricket again after Phillip Hughes died from the injuries he sustained facing him in a Sheffield Shield match.

Hughes was struck on the neck by a short-pitched delivery from the 22-year-old at the Sydney Cricket Ground, hit in an area unprotected by his helmet as he attempted a hook shot.

Lawrence is uniquely qualified to empathise with Abbott as he struck West Indies batsman Phil Simmons - who was not wearing a helmet - on the head when playing for Gloucestershire in a tour match back in 1988.

[color=rgb(68, 68, 68)]Simmons was rushed to hospital, and had emergency brain surgery, but unlike Hughes he was out of hospital just over a week later, made a full recovery and had a glittering international career.[/color]
[/color][color=rgb(68, 68, 68)]"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.[/color]