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The second Test between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval has begun with great anticipation, especially as India leads the series 1-0 following a commanding victory in Perth. Fans have filled the stadium to witness the day-night Pink Ball Test, with India opting to bat first after winning the toss. Meanwhile, a poignant moment marked the start of the match as Australian players took the field wearing black armbands.
Reason behind donning black armbands
This solemn gesture carried significant meaning for the host side. The Australian team was paying tribute to their late teammate, Phil Hughes, on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death. Hughes, a talented left-handed opening batter, passed away on November 27, 2014, due to a freak accident during a Sheffield Shield match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
During the fateful match between South Australia and New South Wales on November 25, Hughes was struck on the neck by a bouncer, causing a vertebral artery dissection. The impact led to a catastrophic brain injury. Despite immediate medical attention and emergency surgery, Hughes succumbed to his injuries two days later, at the tender age of 25. Australians are also wearing black arm bands for another former Australian opener Ian Redpath who passed away last Sunday.
Cricket Australia has since honored Hughes’s memory in various ways, and his untimely demise remains a somber chapter in Australian cricket history. To mark this significant anniversary, the team decided to don black armbands during the second Test. Additionally, it has been decided by Cricket Australia, a touching documentary ” The Boy from Macksville,” celebrating the life and career of Hughes will be shown on Cricket.com.au’s digital platforms, as well as Channel 7, 7plus, Fox Sports and Kayo Sports after first one of the second Test in Adelaide on December 6, allowing fans and players alike to reflect on his legacy.
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Mitchell Starc strikes early for Australia with fall of Yashavi Jaiswal
India, opting to bat first in the Day-Night Test at Adelaide, faced an early setback as Mitchell Starc trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw on the very first delivery of the match. KL Rahul and Shubman Gill have since steadied the innings, with Gill showcasing confidence through four boundaries in his unbeaten 18 runs. Rahul remains cautious at the other end, at the score of 9. The current score stands at 29/1 after 10 overs. Pat Cummins has been economical with three maidens, keeping the pressure on the Indian batters. The pink ball is already showing some movement under the lights, promising an intriguing contest ahead.
