Sean Abbott has delivered a bouncer in his first over during the opening session of NSW’s Sheffield Shield clash against Queensland at the SCG.
Abbott received a warm round of applause from the crowd when he was introduced into the attack in the 13th over in his first outing since Phillip Hughes’ death.
Hughes was killed in an on-field accident when he was struck by an Abbott bouncer at the same ground two weeks ago.
After four dot balls of his first over, Abbott delivered a short ball with his fifth delivery that sailed well over Bulls batsman Joe Burns’ head.
NSW paid tribute to their former teammates by wearing black armbands and “PJH 707” on their shirts, a reference to Hughes being the state’s 707th representative.
Queensland were 1-88 at lunch with Joe Burns not out on 42 and Usman Khawaja is unbeaten on five.
The Bulls batsmen were rarely troubled during the first session until Marnus Labuschagne (39) was dismissed by Will Somerville’s second ball.
Somerville went into the break with 1-2 while Abbott was economical with figures of 0-13 off five overs.
While there has been discussion about the bouncer’s place in the game in the wake of Hughes’ death, the first of the match came and went with little fanfare.
Doug Bollinger dropped it in short to Burns in the sixth over and the Queensland opener ducked under comfortably.