Clarke injury fear on day of high drama
Michael Clarke’s immediate playing future is in doubt after he broke down with a back injury before India’s attack fought back with three late wickets on day one of the first Test.
The Australia captain, whose battle with a back-related hamstring complaint was overshadowed by the recent death and national mourning for team-mate Phillip Hughes, limped from Adelaide Oval after reaching 60 not out.
David Warner’s fifth century in his past 10 innings, an explosive 145, helped Australia take control before three wickets with the second new ball meant they finished on 6-354.
Steve Smith closed on 72 not out.
Clarke lies down as he tries to fix his back. Pic: Getty Images
Concern all round for the skipper. Pic: Getty Images
Clarke admits defeat and troops off the Adeladie Oval. Pic: Getty Images
Clarke showed no signs of the hamstring problem as he struck nine fours in a century stand with Warner that allowed the two New South Welshmen to honour their former comrade.
But he appeared in great pain after he swayed out of the line of an Ishant Sharma bouncer during the second session.
He lay on the ground to stretch his back while doctor Peter Brukner and physiotherapist Alex Kountouris spent an extended period with him before he walked slowly back to the changerooms.
He broke down three times with the chronic hamstring problem in the past four months and faced a race against time to be fit for the first Test, which was originally scheduled to be played at the Gabba starting last week.
David Warner looks skywards after bringing up his hundred. Pic: Getty Images
His injury took some of the gloss off Warner's brilliant 106-ball century, which he marked by kissing the Australian badge on his helmet and raising his arms and bat to the skies.
Within 15 minutes of the heart-rending pre-match scenes, which saw the crowd provide 63 seconds of applause for Hughes, the player seemingly most affected by his shock death was 34 not out in an unforgettable start to the Test.
Warner slowed as the first session progressed but still reached his half-century in 45 balls.
Warner struck boundaries from the first balls he received from openers Mohammed Shami and Varun Aaron and had tallied seven fours from his initial 15 deliveries.
It was though the supercharged Warner was providing his own personal tribute to Hughes as he raced ahead of his opening partner Chris Rogers.
It took the rapid arrival of the more experienced Sharma to return matters to their traditional Test pace.
Sharma soon claimed Rogers at slip for nine while the returning Shane Watson only got to 14 before edging Aaron to Shikhar Dhawan who completed his second sharp capture.
India produced a surprise by naming leg-spinner Khan Sharma to make his Test debut in place of the veteran off-spinner Ravi Ashwin, and the Indian Premier League bolter got his first Test wicket after tea when Warner holded out.
Adelaide Oval salutes Phillip Hughes before play. Pic: Getty Images
Mitch Marsh joined Smith after Warner's dismissal and the pair shared an 87-run stand, with the young West Australian scoring a polished 41 in his first appearance on home soil.
A score of 500 is not beyond Australia's ambitions though nightwatchman Nathan Lyon did not last long after replacing Marsh and veteran gloveman Brad Haddin fell for a duck from the last ball of the day.
Haddin now has just 71 runs in his past 10 innings and his once feisty career is fading fast.
But much attention will now turn to Clarke and his ongoing fitness battles. The captain had wanted to play a grade game in Sydney while selection chairman Rod Marsh demanded he get through a two-day match in Adelaide to be considered.
Hughes’ death changed those plans but Clarke had limited preparation time before playing in this match.
Team performance manager Pat Howard also muddied the waters by publicly saying that Clarke may not be fit for the entire summer after he damaged the hamstring most recently.
Howard’s view has suddenly gained significantly greater weight.
Australia's players stand during the tribute to Hughes. Pic: Getty Images
