Friday Dec 13, 2024
Friday Dec 13, 2024
Wednesday, 10 December 2014 01:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
There was more cause for celebration for Warner as he reached his tenth Test century in the second session -Getty Images
ADELAIDE (Reuters): David Warner paid moving tribute to Phillip Hughes in compiling a brilliant century, but Australia’s joy was tempered with another injury to captain Michael Clarke on an emotional opening day of the first test against India on Tuesday. Warner’s sparkling 145 from 163 balls had the hosts off to a flying start at a sun-drenched Adelaide Oval, and though India captured a flurry of late wickets, Steven Smith added an unbeaten 72 after tea to push Australia to 354-6 at stumps. A day that began solemnly with a slew of tributes to Hughes ended with grave concerns over the fitness of Clarke, who retired hurt on 60 with a lower back injury. Having raced to be fit for the match after suffering a third hamstring strain in three months, Clarke’s new injury will raise questions over his management, and whether sentimentality trumped sense in his selection for the match. Batsman Virat Kohli, who replaced the injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India captain, lost the all-important toss and watched his bowlers toil for the most part on an unhelpful wicket. After Warner was caught in the deep when slogging debutant legspinner Karn Sharma, Smith and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh added another 87 runs before the latter was caught behind off the bowling of paceman Varun Aaron. Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was bowled for three by Mohammed Shami before wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was caught behind for a duck, bringing the day to a close. Warner took to the Indian pacemen with gusto, clubbing a four off the first ball and crunching another 18 for the day. The pugnacious 28-year-old was fielding when Hughes was struck down by a short ball in a domestic match and he paid tribute to his former team mate on several milestones. “I was proud of the guys firstly just to be able to walk on to the ground today,” Warner told reporters. “For me to knuckle down and score a 100 was fantastic. It’s one of those things that you have to keep soldiering.”
Abbott takes two wickets on return to SCG
SYDNEY (Reuters): Australian paceman Sean Abbott took two for 53 for New South Wales on Tuesday as cricket returned to the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) two weeks after Phillip Hughes was fatally injured in freak accident during a match. Abbott, whose bouncer hit Hughes on the back of the head and caused the catastrophic injuries that killed the batsman two days later, helped his state dismiss Queensland for 268 in the four-day Sheffield Shield match. The 22-year-old was devastated by the death of his former team mate on Nov. 27 and received of a wave of support from fellow players in Australia and around the world. On Tuesday, the hosts lost the toss and fielded first, giving Abbott an early opportunity to get back into his stride. Abbott was warmly applauded by the sparse crowd when he bowled his first over and with his fifth ball delivered a bouncer that flew over the head of Queensland batsman Joe Burns. The New South Wales players wore wear black armbands in memory of Hughes and will have “PJH 707” stitched onto their shirts for the remainder of the season, a reference to the batsman being the 707th player to play for the state team. Hughes played 37 first class matches for his home state before moving to the Adelaide Oval, where the first test against India also began on Tuesday, to join South Australia. |
