David Warner Smashes Emotional Hundred at Adelaide
David Warner, close friend of Phillip Hughes, overcame raw emotions to score his 10th hundred as Australia took early honours in the first Test against India at the Adelaide Oval.
- NDTVSports
- Updated: December 09, 2014 05:34 am IST
David Warner slammed his 10th hundred on Day 1 of an emotionally charged Test match against India at the Adelaide Oval. Warner was a close friend of Phillip Hughes, who died tragically after being hit by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield game. (Hughes Remembered Before Start of First Test)
Warner brought up his ton off 106 balls as Australia consolidated their position after lunch against a struggling Indian attack. The 28-year-old eventually perished for 145 off 163 balls, becoming debutant Karn Sharma's maiden Test victim. Warner clobbered 19 boundaries in his swashbuckling innings.
In fact, Warner was applauded by the crowd when he reached the score of 63 and the batsman responded by looking heavenward. Hughes was batting on 63 when he was fatally hit by Sean Abbott at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Warner, who had been positive from the outset of his innings at the Adelaide Oval, looked to the heavens and kissed his helmet upon reaching three figures.He then embraced Clarke mid-pitch as both players reflected briefly on the tragic death of Hughes.
Warner was on the ball soon after Australia elected to bat in the opening Test. While his partner Chris Rogers perished early to Ishant Sharma, Warner slammed his fifth hundred in the last 10 innings. The stocky left-handed batsman also has three fifties during the course. (Abbott Back With a Bouncer After Hughes Tragedy)
Warner's last 10 innings make for impressive numbers: 115, 70, 66, 135, 145, 133, 29, 19, 58 and 145. The aggressive opener played some breathtaking shots and impressed the Adelaide Oval crowd with his usual audacity. When Hughes passed away at the St Vincent Hospital, Warner was seen leaving the premises in tears.
Warner was also under close observation during Australia's training in the run up to the first Test and his teammates would have been relieved to see their premier batsman playing with the kind of tenacity that has made him such a force to reckon with in international cricket.