Support for 'broken' Abbott pours in from all quarters

 A "broken" Sean Abbott faced rebuilding his life after delivering the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes, although Cricket Australia said the young bowler was holding up well given the circumstances.

Test veteran Jason Gillespie said Abbott's personal and professional life had been turned upside down by the unprecedented tragedy. "That lad is absolutely shaken and broken at the moment," he told Fox Sports, while former Australian captain Mark Taylor said he would be haunted by the incident.

"He's got no questions to answer but I'm sure he'll be feeling some guilt today and probably will be for a long time," he said. "I really hope Sean can get over it and we one day see Sean back playing for NSW and maybe Australia."

Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland spoke with him on Thursday evening and said he was impressed with the way he was handling the situation, adding "this is a grieving process that will affect people in different ways". "I think it's been fantastic the way in which people have shown concern for Sean," he said.

"What we will do and the relevant experts will do will be to provide Sean with all of the support he needs to work through this. But right now I can say that he is holding up very well and I'm incredibly impressed with him."

Abbott visited Hughes in Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital and has been getting support from cricketing officials and his teammates.

Reports said Australian captain Michael Clarke and Hughes' sister Megan went out of their way to spend a significant amount of time with him this week.

Former Australian Test fast bowler player Stuart Clark spent time with Abbott, who has a naturally quiet temperament, on Thursday night and said he appeared OK with at least three supporters always around him, but it was early days.

"I think it will be the hardest for him when it's quiet and there's nothing happening," he told Sky Sports radio. "When he's sitting at home at night before he goes to bed -- that's, I think, when the thoughts will start recurring in his mind."