David Warner has posted the 10th and most emotional century of his Test career.

Warner scored an almost run-a-ball ton on day one of the first Test at Adelaide Oval, bringing up the milestone halfway through the second session.

With thoughts of Phillip Hughes on his mind, Warner took off his helmet and punched the air.

He kissed his helmet and held it up to the sky, giving Michael Clarke a hug in the middle of the pitch amid raucous applause.

The 28-year-old Warner was in the field for NSW when close friend Hughes was struck and fatally injured by a bouncer on November 28 during a Sheffield Shield game at the SCG.

Warner rushed to Hughes’ aid when he hit the ground.

He didn’t leave his former Test opening partner’s side until Hughes was taken to hospital for emergency brain surgery.

Hughes died two days later, his final knock finishing 63 not out.

Warner stopped and gazed up the heavens when he passed 50, and also when he reached 63.

The question on everyone’s lips at Adelaide Oval when Mohammed Shami took the new ball was how Australia would fare in their first session following the shock death of Hughes.

Warner delivered a prompt and definitive answer, racing to 32 off 15 balls as Shami and Varun Aaron fluffed their lines early.

Shami and Aaron, both playing their first Test against Australia, started around the wicket and gave the pugnacious left-hander too much width.

Other openers may have been happy to shoulder arms, but Warner embraced his ‘see ball, hit ball’ mantra with a handful of well-timed cover drives.

“There’s been some poor bowling. David Warner has been outstanding, he’s lit up Adelaide Oval already,” Shane Warne said, while calling the game for the Nine Network.