The mourning period after Phil Hughes' tragic death is officially over, and cricket resumed around the world. While Sheffield Shield, the Sri Lanka-England and Pakistan-New Zealand series are all important to the countries, players and fans involved, most eyes were on Adelaide.
How would Australia pick themselves up from the emotional depths following the shock of a team-mate dying as a result of a bouncer at the SCG? Would India hold back, deliberately or otherwise? The first few overs were crucial. Michael Clarke opted to bat first so it was left to Mohammed Shami and Varuna Aaron to deliver the first bouncers. Nobody was injured, the elephant was des patched from the room and Test cricket's integrity and purpose were restored. The crowd knew it, the players knew it, the media knew it. The First Test was on...
And what a match it proved to be! David Warner was particularly close to Phil Hughes, both as an opener batsman and on that fateful day when the latter was struck on the neck. The man from NSW was at his belligerent best from the start although there were poignant moments when he reached 50 and then 63, Hughes' final score. Warner went on to make 145, Clarke also delivered a century, albeit in two parts either side of a recurrence of that back injury, but Steve Smith out-did them both. He was left unbeaten on 162 when his skipper declared overnight before Day 3.
India weren't planning on being fall-guys. In his first Test as captain, Virat Kohli led the riposte with an excellent hundred, while Vijay, Pujara and Rahane provided solid support on the way to 444 all out. With fewer than two days left a draw looked the most likely scenario. India's bowlers made in sufficient headway as Warner reached three figures again, albeit more carefully than on day one. Smith and Mitch Marsh gave debutant spinner Karn Sharma a pasting towards the end, enabling another overnight declaration.
Thus India had a day to score 364 and the Aussies to take ten wickets. Dhawan (erroneously given out caught) and Pujara went cheaply but while Vijay and Kohli were batting together, India were in the driving seat. Nathan Lyon was unlucky with some LBW appeals but he had Vijay plumb on 99, and the pendulum swung back in the home side's favour.
Lyon was on fire as wickets fell swiftly. However, Kohli's was the one wanted and, on 141, the captain's brilliant counter-attacking innings ended with a misplaced pull to Marsh at deep mid-wicket. He deserved his warm ovation but he knew his efforts would be in vain. The tail was polished off with pace and spin and Australia triumphed by 48 runs.
Lyon wasn't particularly economical but his twelve wickets won him the Man of the Match award ahead of the twin centurions Warner and Kohli. A superb Test match had produced great batting and bowling, with fast stuff as well as successful spin, and a worthy memorial to Phil Hughes.
It's also worth noting that Sean Abbott, the other victim in the Hughes tragedy, showed his mettle for his state side. Instead of retiring, he got straight back into the saddle. He bowled a bouncer in the first over to huge applause but things improved later on. The 22 year-old claimed a career-best 6-14 as Queensland were skittled for 99 and roundly defeated.
Great victories for Australia, New South Wales and Abbott, but most of all for the sport itself.
