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Clarke, Smith and Warner show their true colours

Dave Warner was the only batsman who showed any fight against Sri Lanka. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)
Roar Rookie
10th December, 2014
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There is a quote that sums up the first two days of the Test between Australia and India.

“Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength” – Unknown.

Since the tragic death Phillip Hughes on 27 November, all the talk before the first Test was about who would play and who would pull out.

>>FOLLOW THE LIVE SCORES OF THE AUSTRALIA VS INDIA TEST MATCH

Lots of talk about Warner, and with Harris coming out saying he wasn’t sure if he would play.

If they had have pulled out, the public would have understood and backed their decision. The fact that they are all playing is a testament to the players themselves where the quote feels the full effect.

So far we have seen an amazing display of batting from the Aussies, in particular to three boys who were close to Hughes: Dave Warner, Steve Smith and Michael Clarke.

Warner opened the batting and ran on pure adrenaline for the first five overs before blazing a poor bowling attack to all parts of the ground. But then, he had the composure to reel himself in and get his defensive game going.

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His 50 was a muted celebration in comparison to when he was on 63, the number that Hughes will forever be not out on.

He was able to will himself on to a ton where he leaped for the heavens to celebrate with his little mate before an emotional hug with the skipper, who was fittingly out there with him at the time.

Smith came in when Clarke retired hurt on 60. Smith is in some really good form at the moment, from the start of the year against the Proteas to being our best batsman against Pakistan in UAE.

This was no different, this was a really patient knock from him. Anything wide or short was put away with power.

He was yet another one who celebrated his 63 more than his 50, showing how much Hughes meant to his mates.

Day 2 was a battle for Smith, mainly due to coming off and on with rain, but he was determined to let nothing deter him. After a lunch and rain break, he scored two to reach his ton which then marked one of the most emotional celebrations I’ve seen.

As soon as he completed his second run he started to walk over to the big 408 painted on the outfield. On walking there, he saluted the crowd.

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When arriving at the number he pointed his bat upwards, kissed the emblem and said “that was for you, Hughesy”.

When he arrived back at the pitch he received a warm embrace from Clarke. Smith had tears in his eyes such was the emotion being carried. He has played super knock to reach his top score in Test of 162*.

Clarke’s innings couldn’t have even been scripted like this. Being such a strong leader in the past two weeks has shown the real Clarke that everyone will forever love.

During one of the hardest times, his leadership shined through. Having gone through the emotions of losing his ‘little brother’ and fighting to be fit for the game, nothing was going to stop him.

As he wandered towards the pitch, he would have heard the rousing reception of the Adelaide Oval crowd. The spirit of all of Australia was behind him as well, as having little Hughesy walking out next to him.

This was the start of the most inspirational and courageous displays of batting I have ever seen. He was a man out of touch and looked it as well, but he fought through the tough period to post 50.

Just 10 runs later, when on 60, there was a twinge in the back which sent him off the field.

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Everyone across Australia and quite possibly the world were asking whether this would be the last of Clarke?
No. He came out fighting the next day, albeit looking pretty ginger.

The fight he showed had Hughes’s name written all over it. No doubt his spirit helped to will him through the pain to knock up a courageous hundred, one where he could hardly celebrate. No knock of his will ever come close to this.

Each of the three batsmen could have pulled out, but didn’t. And as a result, they have the entire Australian public – and Phil Hughes – behind them all of the way.

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