RIP: Australia coach Darren Lehmann leads tributes to Phillip Hughes

Hughes failed to recover after being hit in the neck by a bouncer while playing for South Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday and subsequently passed away at St Vincent's Hospital in Sydney.

Lehmann echoed the comments from Australia captain Michael Clarke, who read out a poignant statement on behalf of Hughes' family.

"RIP you little champ, we are all going to miss you," he wrote on Twitter. "Love, prayers to all the Hughes family."

Some of Australia's greatest cricketers also took to social media to pay tribute to the batsman, who made 26 Test appearances following his debut in 2009.

Shane Warne, who worked with Hughes as a coach in recent times, described the news of his passing as an "absolute tragedy", while Warne's former bowling partner Glenn McGrath gave his "deepest sympathies" to Hughes' family.

Upon hearing the news Adam Gilchrist summed up a lot of feeling among the cricketing world, he wrote: "No no no no no. RIP Phillip Hughes. For eternity the spirit of cap number 408."

And former opening batsman Matthew Hayden said: "Rest in peace Hughesy. I am really going to miss you. You were one of the great blokes and I will never forget you."

Meanwhile, one of the sport's biggest names, Sachin Tendulkar, was "shocked to hear about Phil" and described it as a "sad day for cricket."

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott added his condolences: "Phillip Hughes was a young man living out his dreams. His death is a very sad day for cricket and a heartbreaking day for his family."