Mark Nicholas says that Australia is "devastated" by the sudden death of batsman Phil Hughes on Thursday.

The left-hander never regained consciousness after being hit on the neck by a short ball during a Sheffield Shield match between West End Redbacks and New South Wales Blues in Sydney.

Nicholas, who has seen Hughes at close quarters while presenting coverage of international cricket Down Under, said that Hughes's passing has "shaken the country".

He told Cricinfo: "Australia is devastated. That is not an exaggeration. It is an insular place that takes care of its own. Cricketers are an important part of the country's history and of its culture. Cricket is more than the national sport or the summer game. It is a way of life.

"Many thought Hughes should be back in the team. Others disagreed. Everyone had a view. Whatever that view may have been, people liked Hughes.

"There was something infectious there, something quite thrilling in the expectation of him. The loss of that expectation has shaken the country to its core."

Hughes played in 26 Tests and 25 One-Day Internationals for Australia.