Alan Jones revealed his friendship with Phil Hughes on his 2GB breakfast show this morning as he explained to listeners that the injury is a lot worse than previously thought.

“Today is a critical day. This is much more serious than anyone imagined. Medical technology is currently breathing for him.”

“As I’m advised the neurology is very very bad or in language that we all understand, the brain is very sick.”

Jones fondly described the friendship that he has with Hughes and their regular discussions of cricket and racing.

“I know this young man very very well. He has not only been in my home on many occasions, but we text regularly.”

“He was often in and out of the test team and I tried to keep his morale up. I kept him believing that he could be good as he wanted to be.”

“I say with a deep sense of melancholy, it will be very hard to recover.”

“He wouldn’t want a debate about whether there should be bouncers or not…he often said to me “I’ve got a bat, the other bloke has a ball”.”

“In my view there should be no test match next week against India.”

“He is a very special young man. I am just grateful that I told him so on many occasions.”