Phillip Hughes' 'minuscule misjudgment' - inquest

The late Phil Hughes. Photo / Ross Setford

A coroner has found that a "minuscule misjudgment" by Phillip Hughes from a high-bouncing ball led to his death during an SCG Sheffield Shield match in November 2014.

The much anticipated findings on the death of the batsman were handed down on Friday following an emotionally charged inquest last month into his death.

"A minuscule misjudgment or a slight error of execution caused him to miss the ball which crashed into his neck with fatal consequences... There was no suggestion the ball was bowled with malicious intent. Neither the bowler nor anyone else was to blame for the tragic outcome," State Coroner Michael Barnes said on Friday.

The Hughes family was not in the courtroom on Friday as Mr Barnes handed down his findings.

"Phillip wasn't wearing the most up-to-date safety helmet when he was struck and the rules that then applied didn't require him to do so. However, had he even been wearing that most modern equipment then available, it would not have protected the area of his body where the fatal blow landed," he said.

Mr Barnes said that the alleged sledging between bowlers and batsmen during the November 2014 game didn't affect Hughes's composure.

"So the threats could not be implicated in his death," he said.

"On that basis, no finding is made as to whether the sledging allegedly actually occurred.

"Hopefully, the focus on this unsavoury aspect of the incident may cause those who claim to love the game to reflect upon whether the practice of sledging is worthy of its participants."

The October inquiry deepened a rift between the former Test batsman's family and those summoned to the witness box, with claims of threatening sledges and a cover-up.

- AAP