David Warner says twin tons against India are fitting tribute to felled mate Phillip Hughes

DAVID Warner said it was fitting that his tribute to long-time mate Phillip Hughes was twin centuries in a Test match, a feat Hughes achieved aged 20.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 12: David Warner of Australia celebrates after reaching his century during day four of the First Test match between Australia and India at Adelaide Oval on December 12, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

DAVID Warner said it was fitting that his tribute to long-time mate Phillip Hughes was twin centuries in a Test match, a feat Hughes achieved aged 20 in his debut series in South Africa in 2009.

Warner’s emotional double of a second-innings 102 on Friday’s fourth day in the first Test against India at Adelaide Oval, following his 145 on day one, was celebrated with a trademark leap into the air. And a point of the bat to the sky to Hughesy.

“Yeah definitely it was in the back of my mind,” Warner said..

Last week, Warner attended the funeral of Hughes who died tragically aged 25 after being felled by a bouncer in a Sheffield Shield match in which Warner was playing for NSW against Hughes’ South Australia side.

“We’ve been seeing the highlights of his back-to-back hundreds in the last week or so and it’s a fitting thing I think,” Warner added.

“He was giving me some luck out there today which is fortunate enough for myself.

“It’s a memorable thing to get a century back to back in the one Test and he played a fantastic knock as well in South Africa.”

Phillip Hughes and David Warner training together in 2010.

Warner, who engaged in plenty of banter with India’s bowlers yesterday, has broken through another barrier by reaching his 1000th run for 2014.

The former Twenty20 dasher has hit 11 hundreds in 33 Tests, including six in 2014.

Bowled off a no-ball, given not out when caught behind and dropped at slip, Warner had some luck yesterday on his way to back-to-back hundreds in the same Test match for the second time this year.

But after the past couple of weeks he has had, the cricket gods have cut the aggressive opener some slack.

After hugging skipper Michael Clarke in an emotional and prolonged embrace when he scored his first-innings hundred on Tuesday, Warner was jumping for joy again three days later.

Warner’s 102 from 166 balls included 11 fours and a six and his usual flair was there for all to see.

Not out! David Warner is bowled off a no-ball by Varun Aaron of India.

His manner of dismissal, bowled around his legs after switching to a right-hander’s stance, would have left some old timers aghast.

But the results keep coming and Warner’s Test average is now 50.05, putting him in the elite class.

Warner’s next goal is not twin tons but breaking through another barrier to post a double hundred.

“When I’m making those hundreds I’ve got to make big hundreds and turn them into double hundreds,” he said.

“I’ve got to go big. Like Michael Clarke did against India last time, double hundred after double hundred.

“They’re the achievements you want and they’re the ones that get recognised a lot.”