Sean Abbott delivers a bouncer to a Queensland batsman.
© AFP
Sean Abbott, who delivered the ball that killed Australian batsman Phillip Hughes , bounced back in style to finish with career best figures of 6/14 and helped New South Wales to an innings and 80-run win over Queensland in a Sheffield Shield game on Friday.
Abbott had taken 2/53 in the first innings to finish with a match haul of eight wickets.
There had been fears that the 22-year-old fast bowler may have been too traumatised to play again after Hughes died from being hit by one of his rising balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground last month. But Abbott bowled a bouncer in his opening over Tuesday on his return to the ground where the freak accident happened. (Sean Abbott, a Broken Man )
Abbott's return coincided with Australia facing India in the delayed first Test at Adelaide, where a number of tributes for Hughes were held before play got under way. Well into the penultimate day, Michael Clarke's men have taken a strong first innings lead to put the hosts under pressure.
Australia opener David Warner who followed up his first innings hundred with a rapid fifty in the second essay, applauded at the Adelaide Oval when he learned of Abbott's feat.
Abbott has received widespread encouragement and held his nerve in his first game back when he was introduced into the New South Wales attack in the 13th over against Queensland. (Hughes Honoured Ahead of First Test in Adelaide )
Showing little emotion, he sent down four dot balls before a short-pitched delivery that sailed well over ducking Queensland batsman Joe Burns.
NSW paid tribute to Hughes, who once played for that state, by wearing black armbands and "PJH 707" on their shirts, a reference to the well-liked batsman being their 707th representative.
Hughes, 25, died on November 27 from bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by the Abbott bouncer, plunging the cricket world into mourning.
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