Clarke retires hurt after Warner's stirring ton, Australia on top at tea
The Australian captain retired hurt with a back spasm on 60 after David Warner scorched the Indian bowling for a sizzling century; Warner was unbeaten on 131, leading his team to 238 for 2 at tea.
Australia captain Michael Clarke retired hurt shortly before tea on day one of the first test against India on Tuesday, dampening the mood at the Adelaide Oval after opener David Warner had thrilled the crowd with a stirring century.
The opening match of the four-test series was originally scheduled in Brisbane but was delayed and switched to Adelaide to give players time to mourn batsman Phillip Hughes, who died almost two weeks ago after being hit on the back of the head during a domestic match.
Clarke, included in the side after racing to be fit from a hamstring strain, was on 60 late in the session when he twisted away from a short ball from Ishant Sharma.
Though he tried to stretch out the injury with medical staff, he trudged off the field after a delay of a few minutes with Australia on 206 for two wickets.
Steven Smith joined Warner to negotiate the final few overs to the tea-break, as the hosts reached 238 for two.
Smith was on 17, and Warner unbeaten on 131 having marked his fifth ton of the year with a poignant glance at the sky in tribute to fallen team mate Hughes.
The swashbuckling Warner tore into India's hapless paceman from his first ball faced, crunching 14 boundaries on the way to his 100, including seven in the first four overs.
The 28-year-old, who was present when Hughes was fatally injured by a short ball in Sydney, looked to the heavens on reaching 50 with a pull to the fence, and again when he reached 63, the score Hughes had compiled before being struck down in the Sheffield Shield match.
Opener Chris Rogers was reduced to a bystander as Warner ran amok early in the innings, and ultimately a spectator when he drove recklessly at an Ishant delivery, edging the paceman to Shikhar Dhawan at second slip to be out for nine.
Shane Watson, batting at three and recalled to the side after missing Australia's 2-0 series defeat to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, was out for 14 after edging Varun Aaron to the same fielder.
Clarke came to the crease and the 33-year-old, who played a leading role in supporting Hughes's family and his team mates, was given a standing ovation as he strode out.
Aaron welcomed him with a bouncer first ball and Clarke responded with a few words at the paceman before teaming up with Warner to dominate the middle session before his injury.
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