Australia v India: David Warner in Phillip Hughes tribute during ton
Batsman David Warner scored a century and paid tribute to Phillip Hughes as Australia dominated day one of the fourth Test against India in Sydney.
Warner hit 101 and on reaching 63, he took off his helmet and kissed the ground near the spot where Hughes was fatally injured, when on 63 runs.
"I'm always going to pay tribute to my mate," said Warner. "Every time I play here I'll definitely be doing that."
He shared an opening stand of 200 with Chris Rogers (95) in Australia's 348-2.
It was Warner's 12th Test century and third of the series with the 28-year-old needing just 108 balls to reach the milestone.
On reaching 63, David Warner took off his helmet and kissed the ground near the spot where Hughes was fatally injured, when on 63 runs
"It's very special," added Warner. "I haven't scored a hundred at home or the MCG and I was sort of talking myself out of it.
"I said to the players I might as well not play those two Tests because I couldn't score a run there."
The opening partnership was ended when Warner was caught in the gully by Murali Vijay off the bowling of Ravichandran Ashwin.
In the next over Rogers chopped a Mohammed Shami delivery onto his stumps to depart five runs short of his hundred, but stand-in captain Steve Smith (82 not out) and Shane Watson (61 not out) guided Australia to 348-2 at the close.
Australia hold an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, with emotions in the final match heightened because it is taking place at the same ground where Hughes, 25, died last year.
Cricket Australia unveiled a memorial plaque outside the home side's dressing room on Monday.
Meanwhile, India have announced their 15-man squad for the forthcoming World Cup, which will be held in Australia and New Zealand and starts on 14 February.
All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (shoulder) and pace bowler Ishant Sharma (knee) are included, despite suffering injuries during the current tour of Australia.
India squad: Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Akshar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
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