Dec 9, 2014:Australia captain Michael Clarke retired injured on an emotional opening day of the first Test against India, following the death of Phillip Hughes.
Hughes, 25, was 63 not out when he died almost two weeks ago after being struck on the neck by a bouncer.
Fans stood for 63 seconds of applause before the game in Adelaide.
Clarke, 33, was on 60 when he injured his back while avoiding a short ball just before tea. Australia, buoyed by David Warner’s 145, closed on 354-6.
Clarke, who gave a moving eulogy for Hughes at the batsman’s funeral on 3 December, and opener Warner combined for a century partnership. Warner’s century was his 10th in Test cricket.
The match was originally scheduled in Brisbane, but delayed and switched to Adelaide to give players time to mourn team-mate Hughes, who has been symbolically named “13th man” in the Australia squad.
The Australian players entered the ground wearing Hughes’ Test cap No 408 on their shirts and black armbands.
Both teams gathered before a large 408 painted on the Oval’s playing surface before a video tribute to Hughes, narrated by Australia’s former Test captain Richie Benaud, was played.
Clarke was only playing after coming through a fitness test on a third hamstring strain in three months – problems are related to his long-term degenerative back injury.
Cricket Australia said he had hurt his lower back, causing him “considerable pain” and Clarke, who has missed just one of Australia’s 40 Tests since he took over the captaincy, left the ground for treatment.
Meanwhile, Sean Abbott, who delivered the bouncer that led to the death of Hughes, has returned to action for New South Wales.
The 22-year-old was selected to face Queensland in a four-day Sheffield Shield match at Sydney Cricket Ground, the same venue where Hughes was struck.
He bowled a bouncer in his first over and took two wickets.
Source:BBC Sports
