An emotional David Warner admitted it would be difficult for the Australians to play at the SCG, a venue where their beloved ‘mate’ Phillip Hughes was fatally felled by a short-pitched delivery.
Warner said here on Sunday, “At the moment, not just me but for the guys who were here as well...I can see the guys are putting on a brave face at the moment.”
The left-handed opener added, “It really comes down to that national anthem and walking out there...I was just standing out there just before talking to a friend of mine and just talking about the incident and know where I was fielding and now every time I go out there to field it’s going to be in the back of my mind, whoever we’re playing.”
As a tribute to Hughes, a plaque and a bust will be at the entrance to the Member’s Pavilion.
Warner was pleased with this. “Every time we walk on and off the field, we’ll have a smile on our face and know that our little mate is with us.”
The Aussie said he would try to hold back his emotions.
“I know when I walk out there and go to face up at that Randwick End, I know I’m going to be looking down at that spot (where Hughes fell).”
Family support
The opener said his family had helped him get over Hughes’ shocking death.
“Every time I go home, I’ve always got a big smile on my face to see my fiancée Candice and daughter Ivy. I think it probably would have been a little bit different….I can feel now with having Ivy how much hurt and pain Hughesy’s family is going through.”
Asked whether Kohli would be aggressive with his words in his first Test as a full-fledged captain, Warner said, “I’d like to see him, if he’ll come out with the same aggression as last Test, if he will do it as captain.” He added, “The way Kohli is and goes about the game he’s a fiery character but he goes out there and plays with his heart on his sleeve.”
Warner praised M.S. Dhoni’s tactical acumen as captain and joked that without Mitchell Johnson in the team, he would not have anyone to back him up in sledging.
