An emotional David Warner has dedicated his superb first innings total of 145 runs to Phillip Hughes following the 25-year-old’s death a fortnight ago.
Warner smashed 145 from just 163 deliveries against India to help propel the Aussies to a day one total of 6-354 and paid tribute to Hughes by hoisting his bat into the air at the 50 and 63 mark, Hughes’ unbeaten score before being struck by a fatal bouncer at the SCG.
“I like to do a little bit of a celebration but that was definitely for him today,” Warner said at stumps.
“I knew the little man up there was with me at the other end and it all fell into place.”
After a distraught Warner was seen skipping out on last Friday’s net session, the Test opener later admitting he was close to pulling out of the first Test in Adelaide, but ranked Tuesday’s bounce back ton as the most memorable of his career.
“When I scored my first hundred, he was at the other end and I dedicate that hundred to him today,” Warner added.
“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.”
Named as the posthumous 13th man for the Australian side in the opening Test, Hughes will be honoured throughout the series. A giant ‘408’ covers the Adelaide Oval surface and is featured on the Aussie players’ shirts, representing Hughes’ Australian Test cap number.
Both sides and the 20,000 spectators in attendance paid tribute to Hughes with a 63-second ovation following a big-screen video slideshow narrated by Richie Benaud, which brought players from both sides to tears.
“A boy, just beginning … 25 years of age … baggy green number 408,” Benaud read.
“His father’s best mate … son, brother, fighter, friend … inspiration.
“Phillip Hughes, forever. Rest in peace, son.”
Photos: Scott Barbour, Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
