Cricket: Batsman recovering from skull fracture

Zimbabwe batsman Mark Vermuelen is recovering in a Brisbane hospital after surgery to repair the skull fracture he suffered in Tuesday's one-day cricket international against India.

Vermuelen had more than three hours of surgery at Brisbane's Mater hospital. He was admitted with a depressed fracture after top-edging a hook shot off an Irfan Pathan bouncer into his forehead.

The 24-year-old opener was wearing a new-style helmet, but the ball went between the visor and peak, leaving him bloodied and bruised.

In addition to reconstructing the impact area above his right eye, the surgery also repaired damage he had sustained in a previous fracture during last year's World Cup.