There is no doubt it has had a great affect on the Shoalhaven cricketing community, with players and officials describing it as a tragic incident.

It has been suggested the force felt by Hughes would have been similar to that of a bullet.

Hughes was wearing a helmet, so is it safe for local cricketers to be playing without one?

At the moment, in junior cricket and in school cricket, players are required to wear helmets, but is optional at senior level.

Shoalhaven District Cricket Association president Cathy Russell said it comes down to personal choice.

“I’m not sure whether we can enforce it, it would be really difficult,” Mrs Russell said.

“Some people will say that Hughes was wearing a helmet and it didn’t do him any good, so it probably won’t change their mind,” she added.

Mrs Russell suggested it is worth looking into the design of the helmets to make sure they give maximum protection, but otherwise it is unlikely it will change the way the game is played.  

“I don’t think they should take the bouncer out, that’s ridiculous,” she said.

“It was just a freak accident.

“It’s amazing what the body can do sometimes and I think everyone in the cricketing community will be hoping and hoping that he can recover and everything is going to be fine.”

A number of local players have come through juniors where they were required to wear helmets and it has become a force of habit.

Bomaderry first grade captain Jordan Matthews said he wouldn’t go into bat without one, but there is still always an element of danger.

“You can wear all the protective equipment you want, but you can’t cover and protect yourself against every eventuality,” he said.

“It’s still going to be dangerous if you get hit in a certain spot,” he added.

Matthews described Hughes as one of his favourite players and not surprisingly, hopes he will make a full recovery.

But as a fast bowler himself, he can also sympathise with Sean Abbott, the bowler at the centre of the incident.

“It would be silly for someone to say he intended to hurt him,” Matthews said.

“When you bowl a bouncer, it is definitely meant to be a form of intimidation, but you could never say he intended for that to happen.

“He would probably know him quite well and I imagine he’d be feeling terrible at the moment.”

Matthews described it as a very sad and unfortunate incident and thinks it’s unlikely we will ever see anything like it again.

But what about the players who choose not to wear helmets?

Nowra all-rounder Michael Coulter and many of his team mates fit into that category.

Coulter said he found it hard to watch replays of the Hughes incident and would not wish it to happen to anyone.

However, he said it is unlikely it will change the way he plays the game.

“At that high level of cricket, you take all the necessary precautions, but I very rarely wear a helmet,” he said.

“I struggle to see out of them and if I’m being honest, it’s probably not going to change my mind.”

Coulter is also hoping Hughes makes a full recovery.

“It’s a tragic thing to have happened and I just really hope he pulls through.

“I wish him all the best and my thoughts are with him.”