Magical Adelaide: Warner, Kohli, Lyon, and an inspired win

Nathan Lyon celebrates the winning moment in Adelaide (photo: Getty Images)

DAVIS HARRIGAN

INFINITY CRICKET MEDIA

Ecstatic scenes at the Adelaide Oval on day five of a test match that twisted, turned, surprised, and ultimately thrilled, encapsulated the perfect send off for Phillip Hughes by the Australian team.

David Warner was electrifying. Nathan Lyon was the spin king. Michael Clarke was falling apart and still put on a majestic performance. Virat Kohli decided defence was a bad idea.  India almost won the test.

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Cricket: Australia v India: David Warner steals Day One show

David Warner holds his helmet high dedicated to Phil Hughes as he celebrates a century (photo: Getty Images)

A sunny and dry Adelaide greeted Australia and India, on what was a heartfelt but heavy day for cricket.  Tributes to Phil Hughes flowed pre-game, as Australian skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and confidently chose to bat.

His decision was ultimately justified by the powerful David Warner, who decided to put Indian fast bowler Varun Aaron to the boundary three times in his opening over.  His very first delivery was smashed with precision timing to the cover ropes.

Cricket: Saying goodbye to a little champion personally

Tributes for Phil Hughes left outside the South Entrance at the Adelaide Oval (photo: Davis Harrigan)

It has been one of the most emotional weeks of cricket during my lifetime.

I did not know the man Phillip Hughes – aka “Hughesy” or “Boof” – but I saw him play many times live and on TV.  The situation that unfolded this week, bringing the cricket world to a standstill, truly hit home when I attended a women’s Twenty20 game between the South Australia Scorpions and the Australian Capital Territory Meteors on Friday, at Adelaide Oval No. 2, behind the spectacular main ground.