Sean Abbott’s career-best 6-14 for NSW at the SCG on Friday will have greatly relieved the intense pressure he’s felt since delivering the bouncer that felled Phillip Hughes at the same ground.
The 22-year-old paceman’s success in spearheading NSW to an innings and 80-run win over Queensland saw him join David Warner, Steve Smith and Nathan Lyon in producing the goods at the first time of asking since Hughes’ tragedy.
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Abbott, Warner, Smith and Lyon were among the first to aid Hughes at the SCG, and Michael Clarke, out injured, was among the first to visit St Vincent’s Hospital.
To make it even more special, Abbott’s six wickets were in succession.
He had Peter Forrest (14) caught behind by Peter Nevill, then bowled Nathan Reardon (7), had Ben Cutting (4) caught behind and bowled the dangerous Queensland skipper James Hopes for a fourth ball duck.
Abbott’s golden streak very nearly ended in a hat-trick.
He had Chris Hartley caught in the gully off a bouncer, clean bowled Cameron Brimblecombe first ball, and was unlucky when Luke Feldman dug out a yorker.
But Sean Abbott is only one of the five central figures who wanted to fire for Phillip.
David Warner’s 145 and 102 in Adelaide was his second century in both innings of a Test this calendar year after his 135 and 145 against South Africa at Cape Town last March,
The double-double calendar year feat has only been equalled four times before in Test match history – Clyde Walcott (1955), Sunil Gavaskar (1978), Aravinda de Silva (1997) and Ricky Ponting in 2006.
Steve Smith’s last three Test digs have been 97 against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi, plus a career-high 162*, and 52* in Adelaide – an average of 311.
Add Michael Clarke’s courageous 128 – a record seventh at Adelaide, and his 27th career ton – which would have to be ranked among his best under the circumstances.
The icing on the cake was offie Nathan Lyon’s 5-134 off 36 at a time when his career was at the crossroads. The last time Lyon captured five was against South Africa at Cape Town last February.
In between there have been seven digs for Lyon – three against South Africa and four against Pakistan, all away – for the awesome figures of 4-533.
So Friday was pure gold for Lyon, who despite his mixed fortunes, has always been an honest toiler.
But more importantly, Sean Abbott, David Warner, Steve Smith, Michael Clarke and Nathan Lyon all wanted to fire in their first outings since Phillip Hughes’ tragedy.
It’s fitting all five have saluted their little mate in the best possible way.
While a premature retirement isn’t the solution, he or England want, he may be forced into it if he can’t maintain a long run of matches.
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