David Warner scores emotional century as tribute for mate Phil Hughes

Robert Smith 09:23 10/12/2014
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  • That one’s for you, Phil: David Warner after scoring 63 runs in Adelaide.

    Australia’s David Warner dedicated his stirring century to tragic teammate Phillip Hughes as emotions over the batsman’s death dominated  the delayed first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval.

    – Australia pay homage to Phil Hughes prior to first Test against India
    – Sean Abbott returns for New South Wales following Phil Hughes tragedy

    Warner’s determined knock of 145 off 163 balls, studded with glances to the heavens, was the mainstay of Australia’s innings as they reached 354 for six at the end of day one at Adelaide.

    But on a day of tributes to Hughes, killed in a freak batting accident, there was also concern when skipper Michael Clarke retired hurt with a back problem.

    Clarke, 33, who had to pass a fitness test on a hamstring problem before playing, left the ground for  further assessment of his longstanding lower back complaint.

    Pre-game tributes to Hughes included 63 seconds of applause, representing his score when he was fatally struck in the head by a shortpitched ball on November 25.

    When the first Test, moved from its December 4 start in Brisbane as Australia mourned, finally got underway, the positive Warner hit a first-ball boundary and remained upbeat, reaching his 10th Test hundred off just 106 balls.

    The celebrations were especially exuberant and poignant upon reaching three figures and Warner said: “I like to do a little bit of a
    celebration but that was definitely for him (Hughes) today.

    “I knew the little man up there was with me at the other end and it all fell into place.

    “When I scored my first hundred, he was at the other end and I dedicate that hundred to him today.

    “Out of the 10 that I’ve scored now, that was probably the best. I owe that to him, I know his family’s going to be watching back at home, it’s been an emotional week for all of us and I know he’ll be proud of us.”

    Warner was playing for New South Wales and raced to Hughes’ side when the South Australia batsman was felled by Sean
    Abbott’s delivery on November 25.

    Hughes died two days later, aged 25, and there were questions about whether Warner would be emotionally ready to take on India.

    “Being there on the day that it happened, it was quite tough, the memories are still stuck in my head," he said.

    “I spoke a lot to Michael Lloyd, our sport psychologist, and the support of everyone on social media, the group around us and my fiancee Candice, it’s been amazing.

    “It was quite tough early on there, with the 63-second applause and getting through that national anthem, that was probably what set me off. Comingout and playing the way I did, there was a lot of adrenaline there. It was all instinct, that’s how I play.”

    Reflecting on the moment he reached 63, he added: “It was something that was in the back of my mind, it’s going to be a special
    number for all of us for a long time.

    “It was a bit emotional, Michael (Clarke, captain) said to me to take my time and I did, I had a bit of a tear in my eye there. For however long my career goes, it’s going to be special for me.”

    Warner looked annoyed after heholed out in the deep off debutant Test leg-spinner Karn Sharma for his 145, with 19 boundaries, in the 57th over.

    David Warner visibly emotional in the pre-match tribute to Phil Hughes.

    Australia’s stumps total of 354 for six saw Warner put on 118 with Clarke, who retired hurt on 60 after aggravating his troublesome back injury.

    Asked for an update on his skipper’s fitness, Warner said: “I’m not too sure at the moment, I think he’s gone off for some scans, but he didn’t look too good out there.”

    Mitchell Marsh put on 87 runs for the fourth wicket with Smith but he speared a rearing Varun Aaron delivery to Virat Kohli at fourth slip for 41 in the final overs of the day.

    Nathan Lyon, sent in as a nightwatchman, was bowled by Mohammed Shami for three with 12 balls left and Brad Haddin was caught behind off the same bowler.

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