Aus batsmen raise bats on reaching 63
Adelaide: In a poignant tribute to Phillip Hughes, cricketers David Warner and Steven Smith on Tuesday looked heaven-wards and raised their bats on reaching 63, score from where their deceased teammate could proceed no further after being hit by a bouncer that proved so fatal that his life was cut short at 25. Australian cricketer Hughes’ death following a head injury sustained during a Sheffield Shield game a little more than two weeks ago, dominated headlines in the run-up to the Test series against India, prompting the organisers to reschedule the fixtures. On what expectedly proved to be an emotionally-charged opening day’s play in the first cricket Test against India here, Warner and Smith both looked towards the sky and raised their bats after reaching 63, and the crowd at Adelaide Oval stood up to give a standing ovation.
Watson using Hughes’ locker in Adelaide Oval
Adelaide: Australia all-rounder Shane Watson is using the players’ locker formerly meant for Phillip Hughes in the dressing room of Adelaide Oval, the late cricketer’s adopted home that had witnessed a gamut of emotions before the start of the first Test against India on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Watson was one of four Australian players on the field at the Sydney Cricket Ground when Hughes was felled by a bouncy delivery during a Sheffield Shield game about two weeks ago. The bouncer proved to be so fatal that Hughes’ life was cut short at 25. As per the allocations of seats inside the dressing room, the experienced Watson is occupying the chair of his once younger Australian teammate, who had made South Australia his home. Australian captain Michael Clarke is keeping his gears in the locker of Redbacks batsman Tom Cooper, Hughes’ housemate and the man at the other end when tragedy struck on November 25. Having never regained consciousness, Hughes passed away two days later. Hughes, whose name is still mentioned above the locker at Adelaide Oval, is the 13th man for the first Test and his title appeared on the official team sheet submitted this morning. His Test number 408 is being worn by every Australian players instead of their own, the number placed below the crest on their shirts.
Actions of Senanayake, Williamson cleared
Dubai: Sri lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake and New Zealand’s Kane Williamson can now return to international cricket as the ICC on Tuesday cleared their bowling action after remedial work and a re-test. The ICC confirmed that, following remedial work and a re-test, the bowling actions of Senanayake and Williamson are legal and they can now resume bowling in international cricket. Since being reported earlier in the year, both bowlers have remodeled their bowling actions prior to applying to have their actions re-tested. The results showed that the level of elbow extension measured for all deliveries bowled was now within the 15-degree level of tolerance permitted under the ICC regulations. The umpires are still at liberty to report these bowlers in the future if they believe the bowler is displaying a suspect action and not reproducing the legal action that was analysed during the re-test.