Coming in the wake of Phillip Hughes’ tragic death, an emotional David Warner on Tuesday said his innings of 145 runs on day one of the first Test was the “best knock” of his career and would stay with him for the rest of his life. “It is probably the best knock of my career,” said an emotional Warner after the day’s play.
“Hopefully, I can score some more hundreds later on but this is definitely going to stick with me for the rest of my life. Throughout the innings I had this gut feeling that my little mate (Hughes) was with me at the other end, all the time from ball one.
“I know he will be laughing at other end about all the support and the messages he has received because he wouldn’t have believed the amount of support he has had not just in Australia but from all over the world,” he added.
Warner said he had initially thought of not celebrating his century. “I thought of not celebrating my hundred, but then Hughes would have wanted me to, knowing him. Michael (Clarke) was at the other end with me and he said he would have been proud of me. Even he (Clarke) raised his bat when he was batting on 37 not out and I hope Michael can come out tomorrow and get the rest of his 40-odd runs,” he added.
Warner made a rousing start to the day, hitting a plethora of boundaries, and even though Australia lost two wickets in the morning session, he added 118 runs with Clarke for the third wicket. Afterwards Clarke had to retire on 60 owing to a lower back injury.
“There was a chance that I might not have played this Test. In the first net session on Friday, I was nowhere. later I took some throw downs because I couldn’t let emotion take over. It is just one of those times when you have to keep soldiering on. Before the game started, I found it quite hard but later regrouped and played with my instinct. Then I slowly gained back momentum and survived that a little bit. I just wanted to stay at the crease till lunch,” said Warner.
Warner said he was proud of his teammates for taking the field after a tough week. “I am proud of the guys that we were able to walk out and play today. It has been a very tough week for us. Uniting as one and taking the field, it was the proudest moment for us.”