Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland has claimed that Phil Hughes's condition is "serious" after he was rushed to hospital with a head injury.

The 25-year-old suffered the blow following a delivery from Sean Abbott during the West End Redbacks' Sheffield Shield match against the New South Wales Blues.

After the ball hit him directly on the head, the batsman received mouth-to-mouth resuscitation before being transferred to St Vincent's hospital, where he is undergoing surgery.

Sutherland told reporters: "To be honest it sends shudders through you a little bit. Pleasingly there was medical attention he was able to receive immediately at the ground.

"All we know is that it's serious and he's fortunate to be in the best possible place right now with experts all around him."

The match was abandoned following the incident.